Martha Martinez

CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MARTHA L. MARTINEZ is a passionate educator who exhibits a relentless drive for public education, retired as Superintendent of Salinas City Elementary School District in June 2020 and was recently appointed Co-Executive Director of the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators. 

With over 25 years of administrative experience at site, district and county levels, she started her educational career in Gilroy Unified School District (GUSD) as a paraprofessional to become elementary teacher, principal and district office administrator.  Her administrative experience includes Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction (NMCUSD), Director of District & School Leadership Services and Categorical/Special Projects Director (GUSD& SCCOE).  

Martha is Past President of California Association of Latino Superintendents (CALSA) and is a Founding Member of the Latino Family Fund Foundation.  She has received numerous awards for her contributions to educational leadership and proud to have received ACSA Superintendent of Year Award for Region 10 in 2019 as well as CALSA Superintendent of Year for Region 4 in 2020.  She served on the Community Alliance for Safety & Peace Board of Directors, California Collaborative of Educational Excellence Advisory Board, CSUMB Teacher Advisory Council, Monterey County Task Force for Safe Routes to Schools, San Jose State University Education Advisory Board and ACSA Region 10 Board of Directors.  Currently, Martha is a Steering Partner for Monterey County Bright Futures and Board Member for Monterey Bay Aquarium Board and the Monterey County Food Bank.  Martha received a M.A in Organizational Leadership from University of San Francisco and B.A. in Child Development from San Jose State University.

Ofelia Ceja-Lariviere

CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ofelia Ceja-Lariviere retired as Superintendent with the Farmersville Unified School District in Tulare County. Previously she served as Assistant Superintendent with the Inglewood Unified School District.  She has been in the field of Education thirty-eight years serving as teacher, Staff Development Specialist, Program Coordinator, Vice-Principal, Principal of a Multi-Track Year-Round Program and as Administrative Director to one of the largest Early Childhood Education Programs in the State of California. She received her M.Ed. from the University of La Verne and her Bachelor of Art Degree from Cal Poly Pomona. 

Currently, she is a Tier 11 Administrative Credential Leadership Coach working with the Association of California School Administrators.(ACSA) She also has just completed an assignment as Client Relations Senior Advisor/Superintendent in Residence and before that as the Regional Director of Business Development for Child360, a non-profit organization that is involved in advocating for quality Early Education for students 0-5 years of age.  

She now serves on the ACSA Region 12 Board of Retired Educational Managers. Until recently, she served as Correspondence Secretary to the board of the David and Margaret Youth and Family Services, a non-profit organization. She is Past President of the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, (CALSA), served as Member At Large for the ACSA State Board, was a member of ACSA’s Elementary Curriculum Council representing Early Education, served as the Vice-Chair for the YMCA Pomona Chapter, and was Executive Member to the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles, a non-profit organization working for the betterment of Cal WORK participants. 

Mrs. Ceja-Lariviere was born in Michoacan, Mexico, grew up in Baldwin Park, CA, has been married for 44 years. They have two adult children. Their daughter Erin is a high school Resource teacher and their son Damien is a Project Manager with the Army Corp of Engineers.

She is honored to serve as one of two female co-Executive Directors for CALSA.

Dr. Roxane Fuentes

PRESIDENT

As a public-school educator for nearly 25 years, Dr. Roxane Fuentes has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, principal, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, and Interim Superintendent, before becoming the first Latina Superintendent of the Berryessa Union School District in 2017.   

Throughout her career, Dr. Fuentes has worked to close the achievement gap by nurturing strong parent and community engagement, providing innovative learning experiences for students, all while promoting a culture of equity, collaboration, and support.  She is passionately committed to the power and promise of public education as a nexus of community advancement and economic growth. Under her leadership in Berryessa, student learning experiences and opportunities continue to expand.

Dr. Fuentes currently serves as vice chairperson for the Santa Clara County Superintendents’ Association.  She has served as a mentor in the USC Rossier doctoral program as well as a mentor for CALSA’s mentoring program.  In 2015, Dr. Fuentes was selected as the ACSA Region 15 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year. She was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Women of Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2019.  In addition, Dr. Fuentes was recognized in 2019 as CALSA’s "Honoring Our Own" Superintendent of the Year.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Southern California, her master’s degree in History at California State University, Fullerton, a second master’s degree in Education Administration at California State University, Long Beach, and her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California.  She is a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa scholar society and a recipient of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.

Dr. Juan Santos

PRESIDENT-ELECT

 Meet Dr. Juan Manuel Santos, an accomplished educator dedicated to empowering diverse students in both urban and suburban communities. With a wealth of experience spanning various educational settings, from elementary to university levels, Dr. Santos has made a significant impact on the lives of countless students and leaders. 

Dr. Santos' educational journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in History, complemented with minors in Political Science and Ethnic Studies. Building on his passion for teaching, he pursued a master's in teaching and later earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, as well as a Pupil Services Credential in Counseling. Emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and personal growth, Dr. Santos firmly believes in the transformative power of education in serving others. 

Currently, Dr. Santos proudly holds the position of President Elect for the prestigious California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA), an organization that supports administrators throughout the State of California. Prior to his election as President Elect in July 2023, he served as the Director of Mentoring, a role he had been dedicated to since 2016. Dr. Santos' journey with CALSA started as a protégé in Cohort 6 in 2009, and he later became a mentor in Cohorts 9, 11, and 18, attesting to his unwavering belief in the value of mentorship, particularly through the CALSA Mentoring Program. 

Presently, Dr. Santos serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Ventura County Office of Education, where he oversees the educational needs of over 250 schools and more than 120,000 students hailing from diverse backgrounds and communities. Prior to his role at the county level, he spent over two decades serving in various district and site-level positions, accumulating invaluable expertise along the way. 

Beyond his official roles, Dr. Santos is driven by a profound passion for nurturing and mentoring aspiring leaders and superintendents. This dedication fuels his active involvement in memberships and activities that align with his desire to assist others in reaching their full potential and "Be Your Best." 

In summary, Dr. Juan Manuel Santos is a visionary educator, leader, and mentor, whose lifelong commitment to education has positively impacted numerous lives and continues to inspire those around him to pursue excellence. 

Jessica Garcia

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE

Mrs. Jessica Garcia has over 21 years of experience in the financial industry, with 13 years focused on School Business for both San Bernardino and Riverside County Districts. Due to the financial crisis of 2008, she left the financial industry and joined Rialto Unified School District as a substitute classified employee. Over the span of 13 years, she has worked in the fiscal realm of School Business, initially specialized in payroll and retirement. She has become well known for her expertise in payroll and retirement, doing trainings and workshops with CASBO during their annual conference. Jessica broadened her scope of experience working in other facets of school district business to include accounting, attendance, budgeting, and LCAP development.

Because Jessica believes in whole-heartedly supporting students in every way possible, she has served her community through volunteer work in Redlands Unified School District as Past President and Treasurer for the Clement Middle School Drama Booster and Historian and Bilingual Parent Representative for Franklin Elementary PTA. Jessica is currently the Vice President of Finance for CALSA and has been an active member for three years.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Redlands and has a Director of Fiscal Certificate from CASBO. She currently works for Hemet Unified School District as the Director of Fiscal Services where she teaches her team the importance of personally serving our students.

Mrs. Garcia is a life-long learner, believes in family, community service, and supports the goals, core values, and mission of promoting student success. This passion for supporting students through service makes her a unique Business Administrator.

Zandra Jo Galvan

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Mrs. Zandra Jo Galvan has been serving as Superintendent of the Greenfield Union School District since August 10, 2017. Zandra has worked in public education for the past 26 years. Prior to joining GUSD, she served as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the Gonzales Unified School District where she coordinated all educational programs, the LCAP development process and budget, and managed all state and federal programs.

Superintendent Galvan began her career as an elementary classroom teacher for the Greenfield Union School District where she also attended kindergarten through graduation. Returning to serve as Superintendent allowed her childhood dreams to come true. She has always been passionate about returning to and serving her community since she was a child and has been able to implement some exciting programs while leading as Superintendent. Over the last 24 months, she has implemented a GUSD District Strategic Plan with an LCAP-aligned vision, mission, core values, and board of trustee priorities; implemented the Professional Learning Community system of collaboration around essential standards mapping, identified learning targets through teacher clarity, local common assessments, and effective methods of frequent, on-going data analysis; implemented 21st century classroom furniture and innovative LEGO learning lab spaces at all elementary sites for students to build, innovate, create and prepare for their successful postsecondary college and career futures.

Superintendent Galvan earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies and Teaching Credential from the California State University of Fresno, her Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from CSU Monterey Bay, and her Master of Arts Degree and Administrative Credential in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University. She has also successfully completed the ACSA Superintendent Academy.

Superintendent Galvan is passionate about preparing students to be social-emotionally and academically prepared for college and career and ensures that every GUSD member knows they are an ELITE team member dedicated to the arduous task of saving students from the cycle of poverty. She proudly is committed to ALL Means ALL: Fulfilling the Greenfield Guarantee for ALL students in the Greenfield Union School District. 

Diego R. Ochoa

Superintendent Diego Ochoa also worked with labor partners to increase access to professional development for staff. He has 23 years of educational experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, executive director, and superintendent. He brings a strong background in curriculum, instruction, special education, equity, student wellness, parent engagement, and school facilities. Superintendent Diego Ochoa has been involved with CALSA for over fifteen years and joined the Board of Directors in July 2023. He also serves as an ACSA State Executive Board member.

Superintendent Diego Ochoa joined the San Mateo-Foster City School District in June 2021. He has led the district in establishing a 5-year Strategic Plan involving over 50 stakeholders representing teachers, staff, administrators, labor partners, parents, and community organizations. Superintendent Ochoa has implemented a new data accountability system, created new math pathways to increase access to Algebra in 8th grade, and provided all employees with trauma-informed practices training. Superintendent Ochoa launched the oneSMFC podcast, revamped the district’s websites, introduced Board/Community Workshops, and created Youtube Livestream events. Superintendent Ochoa has also ushered in multi-year contract agreements with both bargaining partners ensuring pay raises for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. 

Superintendent Ochoa previously served as Superintendent of both the Esparto Unified School District and the Hollister School District. Ochoa earned his Bachelor of Arts, Special Education Teaching Credential, and Master of Arts in Education from California State University San Marcos. Superintendent Ochoa also studied in the Urban K-12 Educational Leadership joint doctoral program at the University of California, Irvine. Active in community associations, he has served as ACSA Region 5 President, San Mateo County ACSA Charter President, and Region 3 ACSA President-Elect. Superintendent Ochoa is currently ex-officio Board Member of the San Mateo-Foster City Education Foundation.

Elodia Ortega-Lampkin

Elodia Ortega-Lampkin is currently the Interim Superintendent of the Woodland Joint Unified School District. She is also the Past-President of the California Association of Bilingual Education (CABE), and former City Planning Commissioner in Woodland, Ca.   She is a former farmworker and migrant student who began her career in education as a California Mini-Corps Tutor.  Her career includes more than 20 years of experience in California public schools serving as a Tutor, Bilingual Teacher, Adult Education Teacher, Resource Teacher, Mini-Corp Summer Program Coordinator, Middle School Vice-Principal, Elementary Principal, Director of English Learner Services, Director of Elementary Education, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education, and Associate Superintendent of Educational Services.  As the current Interim Superintendent of Woodland Joint Unified School District she oversees all departments, schools, personnel, programs, activities and operations to support the academic and social emotional needs of 10,000 students.  She has been recognized by Congressman Garamendi’s “Women of the Year Award” 2021, California Latino School Board Association (CLSBA) “Perseverance & Courage to Lead” 2018, California Association of Latino Superintendents & Administrators (CALSA)  “Honoring Our Own Award” 2018, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region III as “Administrator of the Year for Curriculum & Instruction” 2013, Yolo County Family Resource Center “Champion for Children Award” 2012, and the recipient of the Yolo County Mexican-American Concilio “Pilar Andrade Award” 2011. Her career passion has been to create cultures that embrace and promote inclusiveness, biliteracy, multicultural awareness and rigorous instructional programs with high expectations for all students, particularly English Learners. 

Yolanda Valdez

Yolanda Valdez is a seasoned educator with an unwavering dedication to the betterment of students' lives through education. With an impressive career spanning 33 years, she has touched countless hearts and minds, leaving an indelible mark on the educational landscape. Yolanda's journey in education has been one of service, leadership, and a commitment to empowering the next generation.

Yolanda attended Fresno State University where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree.  Yolanda's educational journey began as a teacher, where she nurtured young minds and fostered a love for learning in her students. Her passion for education and her natural leadership abilities quickly propelled her into administrative roles. She assumed the roles of assistant principal, middle school principal, and high school principal, where she strived to create nurturing environments for students to thrive academically and personally.

With an insatiable hunger for making a broader impact on education, Yolanda ventured into district-level leadership, taking on the position of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in developing coordinated educational systems that aligned standards, assessment, curriculum, instruction, and professional learning. Her vision and dedication to educational excellence paved the way for students to receive a comprehensive and aligned education.

Yolanda's journey came full circle when she returned to the community she grew up in, the Cutler-Orosi Community, to serve as the Superintendent. This homecoming allowed her to channel her passion for education into a community she deeply cared about. Over the past thirteen years, under Yolanda's steadfast leadership, the Cutler-Orosi schools have witnessed remarkable progress and growth.

Graduation rates have soared, and the acceptance rates of Cutler-Orosi students to UC and CSU institutions have reached the highest in the region, a testament to the transformative impact of Yolanda's leadership and the Cutler-Orosi staff. She has spearheaded the development of Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and academies, providing students with invaluable work-based learning opportunities and preparing them for college and promising careers.

Her servant heart, always putting the needs of staff, students and the community first, has defined Yolanda Valdez’s leadership. She firmly believes in the power of education as a gift that can unlock endless possibilities. Her unwavering faith in the merits of hard work and the perseverance of the human spirit has been a guiding force in shaping the lives of countless students and educational leaders.  Yolanda has exemplified the true essence of a leader—selflessly guiding, inspiring, and empowering up and coming leaders and students to reach their fullest potential. 

Dr. Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah

As a public-school educator for 26 years, Dr. Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah, has served as teacher, counselor, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director, Associate Superintendent for the Salinas Union High School District and currently is the Dean of Academic Counseling Career and Educational Support Services (ACCESS) at Cabrillo College. Her career has been devoted to developing, implementing, and monitoring effective instructional programs for English Learners, migrant students and socio-economically disadvantaged youth resulting in district-wide success. She believes wholeheartedly offering relevant career and technical educational opportunities to young people.

She has shared her work at state and national conferences such at the California Title I Conference, National Association of State Directors Migrant Conferences, ACSA Leadership Summit and CALSA Focus on Results. She also represented ACSA Region X as the Equity State Representative.

She serves as a Board member for San Jose State University’s Center Collaborative Research Excellence in Education, the Watsonville Public Library, and DigitalNEST. In addition, she has served as a mentor for the ACSA and CALSA mentoring programs. Dr. Baltazar has been recognized as the ACSA Region X 2019 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the year, Monterey County 2019 PBIS Administrator of the Year, and Migrant Student Alumnus of the Year.

Dr. Baltazar-Sabbah earned her Associate of Arts degree from Cabrillo College, her Bachelor’s Degree from Sacramento State University and her Master’s of Arts in Counseling Degree and Doctorate of Education from San Jose State University. 

Jessica Ochoa M.Ed.

Jessica Ochoa is an accomplished public education and civic sector trailblazer with nearly two decades of diversified experience with a commitment to leadership and service, where she has led public education initiatives with the California Department of Education. Jessica is currently the Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations with the Inglewood Unified School District. As a leader in Education, Jessica understands the importance of access and has an unwavering commitment to social justice. She aims to deepen the impact of partnerships, in benefit of our deserving youth from all backgrounds. Jessica was recently recognized by the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, as 2022 Region 5 (Los Angeles County) Classified Management of the Year.

Dr. Lorraine Perez

As head of Student Services, Dr. Lorraine Perez oversees Student Wellness and Support Services, Youth Services, Family Engagement, the Inland Career Education Center, specialized programs, including those serving homeless and foster children, the before- and after-school programs, and other departments.

Dr. Teresa López Alonzo

Dr. Alonzo holds a B.S. from UC Davis, an M.A.Ed. from CSU Los Angeles, and an Ed.D. from the University of Southern California and currently serves as the Associate Director of School Network, Educational Leadership and System Design at WestEd. Dr. Alonzo began her career as a Dual Language teacher and coordinator for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She worked as the Assistant Director with the California Reading and Literature Project, Reading RESULTS initiative where she worked with schools across CA to promote district-wide literacy improvement efforts.  Prior to joining WestEd, Dr. Alonzo served as an instructional coach, elementary and intermediate school principal and Administrative Services Director for the Montebello Unified School District (MUSD).  With the skills acquired over time, Dr. Alonzo seeks to partner with school, district and state leadership teams to facilitate learning networks designed to build instructional leadership capacity and promote high quality teaching and learning and advance equity across their system.  She has offered her support and guidance to others by serving as the institute facilitator for the Association of California Superintendents and Administrators academies. Today, Dr. Alonzo spends her free time serving as the Director of the California Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) Mentoring Program to support administrators throughout the state attain their leadership goals and improve outcomes for students, staff and families.

Dr. Terry Walker

Dr. Terry T. Walker has more than 30 years of experience in K-12 education. She is presently the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources with Keppel Union School District in the beautiful Antelope Valley. Her experiences include being an assistant superintendent of instructional services, a consultant with Education Support Services Group (ESS) in affiliation with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rudd & Romo, a leadership coach, director of educational services, assistant principal, and principal at the elementary and secondary levels, and as an elementary and secondary classroom teacher. In addition, she has been an adjunct professor in educational leadership for graduate school courses as well as teacher education courses for preservice teachers with California State University, San Bernardino.

Following her undergraduate study at California State University, Dominguez Hills, Dr. Walker received her master’s in education administration from California State University, San Bernardino, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Walker received the Honoring Our Own award from the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators for her outstanding contributions in the educational success of children in California in 2022. Also, in 2017, the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents named her as the Administrator of the Year with the national organization. She received the Mentoring Award from the Association of California School Administrators in 2013 for her mentoring new and aspiring public school administrators for region XV.

Dr. Walker has been involved with numerous professional organizations, including the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, the Association of California School Administrators, the California Association for African American Superintendents and Administrators.

Married for more than 12 years, Dr. and Mr. Walker have three adult sons. They also have three beautiful grandchildren. Dr. Walker’s earnest desire is to assist with creating an equitable culture of growth through engaging the hearts and minds of everyone in the system towards continuous increments of increased student achievement to close the achievement gap. She furthermore wants to meet the social and emotional needs of ALL students. This is her commitment to the work of 21st century leadership through coaching and collaboration at all levels within an educational system.

Sal Holguín

Sal Holguín, Jr. is a partner in the Cerritos office of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo. He represents public and private employers in labor and employment law matters which include collective bargaining, investigations, employee discipline, and defending employers against discrimination claims and contract grievances.  In addition, Mr. Holguín provides advice and counsel to public school districts on general school law matters. In 2006, Mr. Holguín was named a “Southern California Rising Star” by Law & Politics and Los Angeles Magazine, based on a poll of selected Southern California lawyers.  This recognition honors exceptional Southern California attorneys who are under the age of 40. Mr. Holguín received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Political Science and Spanish from Stanford University and his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles.

He served as recruitment chair of La Raza Students Association and was an associate editor of the Chicano and Latino Law Review while in law school. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Mexican American Bar Association, Stanford Alumni Association, the California Latino School Board Members Association, and the South Bay Latino Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Holguín gives presentations on a variety of employment and school law issues.  He is able to adapt his presentations to both English- and Spanish-speaking audiences. His fluency in Spanish greatly facilitates school-related investigations involving Spanish-speaking students and parents.  He is a contributor to the firm’s school law publications.

Paul Loya

Mr. Loya has represented school districts for over 25 years including litigation through the Supreme Court, labor negotiations, business and educational equity issues. Mr. Loya began his career serving Latino clients at Centro Legal de la Raza. He has lectured at various University of California schools and numerous educational organizations. Mr. Loya has successfully represented schools and colleges in precedent setting cases including the only precedential case where a teacher was fired for incompetency. Mr. Loya has been recognized in Bay Area Lawyer as a Top Litigator and Law and Politics Magazine and a Northern California “Super Lawyer”.