School board veteran Burns joins CSBA staff
Published: April 30, 2012
Bringing more than 26 years’ experience as a local school board member to CSBA’s Policy and Programs Department is Senior Director Teri Burns, who in the past has represented Region 6 on CSBA’s Delegate Assembly. She continues to serve on the board of the Natomas Unified School District in the Sacramento area.
Burns knows the ins and outs of education policy on a number of levels. As a member and six-time president of what is now the Natomas USD board since 1985, she has grappled firsthand with the toughest issues school board members encounter, such as rapid enrollment growth, unification, joint use projects and charter schools. While a CSBA delegate, she also served on the Annual Conference planning committee.
“I love being able to use my experience to help others be a good board member and get what they need,” Burns said. “We’re all empowered by having better public servants.”
In her new position, Burns analyzes education policy issues to provide direction and advice to the association, school districts and state policymakers. She also represents the association at meetings of the State Board of Education and Commission on Teacher Credentialing, at public hearings and on implementation working groups.
A Sacramento native, Burns is also well versed in legislative strategy, having previously provided direct support to school districts and county offices of education as the director of legislative advocacy for School Innovations and Advocacy, the education service and consulting firm. Before that, she was the deputy superintendent for government affairs at the California Department of Education for six years and a legislative consultant to five California state senators over a period of 16 years. She has a degree in political science and public service from the University of California, Davis.