AboutLeadership, organizational structure, benefits, and business partners and affiliates

Tamara Otero, Cajon Valley Union SD
For President-Elect

Thank you for supporting me as your Vice President during this last year.  It has been my extreme pleasure to serve CSBA.  I have learned so much and feel ready and able to move into the position of President Elect with confidence, grace, and a willingness to continue to learn and be self reflective.  As we lead the charge for Full and Fair Funding, CSBA has had the stage!  It's been encouraging to meet with a Governor who listened to us, and gave us the opportunity to state our position on education deficiencies within the current system.

I support the Mission and Vision of CSBA and believe strongly that through collaboration we can work to create better education systems in California. We must remain a connected power that drives education policy and reform.  Now is the time for change, we cannot let another generation of students be left with adequate education as a result of less than adequate funding.  Communities cannot remain apathetic to the needs of our students; we must share our story!  As a collective group of School Board Members we have a voice and through the collaborative efforts of CSBA we must continue to inform all of California that our children deserve better than the status quo.

I have been a proven leader for over two decades.  I believe good leaders must first be good listeners.  I am a committed learner and a passionate advocate.  I greatly appreciate your votes of support.  

Suzanne Kitchens, Pleasant Valley SD
For President-Elect

Hello Delegate Assembly, my name is Suzanne Kitchens. 

I am your candidate for CSBA President Elect.

I want to thank all of you for your work each day to ensure that our students receive the quality education they deserve.

These are some of the qualifications I possess that I believe make me the best candidate for President elect:

CSBA activities

Current Director Region 11 (Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties)
Current Member of the Board Development Committee
Attendee of CSBA Legislative Action Day as Regional Director
Golden Bell Validator
Attendee of CSBA Leadership Institute
Past Chair of both the Finance and Audit Committees
Previous Mentor of new Directors
Past member of Compensation Review and Bylaws Committees
Member Education Legal Alliance Committee 
    report produced
    California's Challenge Adequately Funding Education in the 21st Century
Past CSBA Delegate
Member of the Legislative Committee, Nominating Committee and Annual Conference Committee
    past presenter AEC
Graduate of Masters in Governance and current enrollee of the Santa Barbara course

Professional/Personal
Camarillo business owner
Married with three adult children all graduates of Pleasant Valley School District and public universities

In closing with our best efforts my wish for Full and Fair Funding will be successful
My email address is skitchens5@verizon.net
Thank you for your consideration.
I would appreciate your vote for me, Suzanne Kitchens, CSBA President elect.

Susan Heredia, Natomas USD
For Vice President

My years of experience as a trustee, as a member of the CSBA Board of Directors and of Delegate Assembly shows a broad spectrum of active involvement at many different levels of public school advocacy. I am an active listener, collaborative, committed, and am highly motivated to continue such advocacy for an education system that helps all students to achieve excellence.

We are all committed to the quality of public education.  It is reflected in our efforts to provide rigorous program for our students, ensure accountability for educational outcomes, and in our efforts to secure FULL AND FAIR FUNDING for our schools, a top priority for which I will be relentless. In this manner, we give meaning and life to that impressive CSBA mission statement.

I strongly support initiatives such as the Grassroots Initiative because it aims to understand local issues and provide board members with the necessary tools before they mobilize in their districts and/or at the state level. In this spirit, board members are at the helm of their advocacy efforts. For this reason, I will advocate for local control to ensure board members voices guide the progress in their own district.

By capitalizing on our strengths, combining our efforts, and thereby maximizing our resources, we can increase our capacity to effect change. Speaking with one voice, the essential voice for public education, strengthens our ability to challenge inattention to our collective experience and wisdom about the needs of our public schools.

I respectfully ask for your vote.

Matthew Balzarini, Lammersville Joint USD
For President-Elect

This is a defining moment for our association.  The board of directors, for which I serve, created and implemented our strategic initiatives to guide this association moving forward.  We have made progress with all of the initiatives, but Full and Fair Funding is about to make a huge stride forward.  As we continue our quest to have this measure placed on the ballot we need an executive committee that can lead this organization with all that comes politically with the process.  We need experienced leaders with integrity and dedication to engage all school board members throughout the state in collaborating with constituents, stakeholders and legislators to make full and fair funding a reality.  With 12 years service as a school board member, service on delegate assembly, the board of directors and over 20 years experience working in public safety as a police officer and firefighter for the City and County of San Francisco, I feel confident that I have gained the training and experience necessary to provide that leadership.  I am a proven leader in my region, working diligently to improve governance while promoting communication, collaboration, policy, process and transparency.  I want to create more opportunity for collaboration with delegates and local board members to encourage a more robust conversation as we work to full implementation of our initiatives.  I would be honored to serve as President-elect.  I humbly ask for your support and your vote.