School Board

The board of trustees of the South San Francisco Unified School District works to: (1) Ensure all students thrive and capitalize on life’s opportunities. (2) Enhance relationships with families, partner agencies, and other constituents for the benefit of all students. (3) Ensure equity throughout the district by:

Raising academic achievement for all students.
Assuring fiscal responsibility and accountability.
Providing the facilities to ensure an environment for successful teaching and learning.

Board President Daina Lujan	Ms. Lujan was appointed as a trustee in February 2016 and elected to the Board in November 2016. She was selected to serve as the 2023-2024 Board President. She has served as Vice President and President and was selected to be Board Clerk in December 2021. Ms. Lujan has lived in South San Francisco since 2009 and is the mother of one child. She is a former planning commissioner for the City of South San Francisco and also currently serves on the Transportation Authority’s citizens advisory committee and the City/County Association of Government’s bicycle/pedestrian advisory committee. Ms. Lujan is a graduate of the California School Board Association's Masters in Governance program. Term expires 2024. [email protected]
Board Vice President Amanda Anthony	Ms. Anthony won election to the Board in November 2022 and was sworn in on December 15, 2022. She was selected to serve as the 2023-2024 Board Vice President. She previously worked as a performance management consultant for the Chicago Public Schools from 2008 to 2011, analyzing data to improve program effectiveness. She also lived in Poland for 10 years, where she taught English as a second language (ESL) from 2011 to 2015 and ran her own business from 2015 to 2020. She is currently a program manager at the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, which helps individuals open small businesses to achieve financial self-sufficiency. Ms. Anthony holds a bachelor’s of science in chemistry and a bachelor’s of arts in political science from Purdue University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago. Ms. Anthony is a graduate of the California School Board Association's Masters in Governance program. Term expires 2026. [email protected]
Board Clerk Chialin Hsieh	Dr. Hsieh was appointed to the Board on March 25, 2021. On December 14, 2023, she was selected to serve as the 2023-2024 Board Clerk. On December 15, 2022, she was selected to be the 2022-2023 Board President. She has worked in the education field for the last 21 years and is currently a Vice President of Instruction at Cañada College. She and her family have lived in South San Francisco for the last 12 years. Her son attended SSFUSD schools and graduated from El Camino High School in 2020. Dr. Hsieh has been involved in school site councils at both Alta Loma Middle School and ECHS. She wants to use her enthusiasm for education and collaborative spirit to keep the SSFUSD moving forward to benefit the students. She is a graduate of the California School Board Association's Masters in Governance program. Term expires 2026. [email protected]
Board Member Patricia Murray	Mrs. Murray was elected to the Board in November 2016. She was selected to be Vice President in December 2018. In December 2019, she began serving as Board president for the 2019-2020 school year. On December 15, 2022, she was selected to be the 2022-2023 Board Vice President. She has served on various SSFUSD committees and was a PTA parent volunteer for 20 years. Mrs. Murray said she is working to make SSFUSD the best it can be. She is a graduate of the California School Board Association's Masters in Governance program. Term expires 2024. [email protected]
Board Member Mina A. Richardson	Mrs. Richardson was elected to the Board in November 2018. She has served the last two years as the Board Vice President. On December 15, 2022, she was selected to be the 2022-2023 Board Clerk. In 2022 she was voted Member of the San Mateo County Committee on District Organization. She is a 40-year resident and the mother of three sons who attended SSFUSD schools. She had a career as an Allied Health imaging professional (AS degree) and was a music major at Sacramento State University (piano). Mrs. Richardson was a member of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHAADD), and worked as a fundraiser and group donor to the Child Care Center in Westborough Park. She is a community activist and opposes government-imposed taxes that impact working families. Mrs. Richardson is bilingual in Spanish. Her goal is to promote SSFUSD's excellent schools and programs which have much to offer our youth in South San Francisco Community. She is a graduate of the California School Board Association's Masters in Governance program. Term expires 2026. [email protected]

Governance

Responsibilities

Set direction for the community's schools:

Focus on student learning and assessment needs, using data.
Generate, review, or revise direction-setting documents (e.g., beliefs, vision, priorities, strategic goals, success indicators).
Ensure these documents are the driving force for district efforts.
Ensure use of appropriate, inclusive processes.

Establish effective, efficient structure for the school district:

Employ the superintendent and set policy for hiring of personnel.
Oversee development and adoption of district policies.
Adopt and set a direction for curriculum.
Establish budget priorities, adopt budgets, and oversee facility issues.
Provide direction for and vote to accept collective bargaining agreements.

Demonstrate support through behavior and actions:

Act with professional demeanor that models the district's beliefs and vision.
Make decisions and provide resources that support mutually agreed upon priorities and goals.
Uphold board- approved district policies.
Ensure a positive climate for employees.
Be knowledgeable enough about district efforts to explain them to the public.

Ensuring public accountability:

Evaluate the superintendent.
Monitor, review, and revise policies.
Serve as a judicial and appeals body.
Monitor student achievement and program effectiveness and adjust programs as indicated.
Monitor and adjust district finances.
Monitor the collective bargaining process.

Demonstrate community leadership:

Speak with a common voice about district priorities, goals, and issues.
Engage and involve the community in district and school activities.
Communicate clear information about district policies, programs, and finances.
Educate the community and the public about issues facing the district and public education.
Advocate for children, district programs, and public education to the general public, community leaders, and local, state, and national leaders.