The National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) National Hispanic Council of School Board Members (NHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of new members to its Board, including Stephanie Parra of the Phoenix Union High School District (AZ) as Secretary and three new regional directors. Ruben Archuleta of Española Public Schools in New Mexico and Mildred Lefebvre of Holyoke Public Schools in Massachusetts, whose terms expire in 2023, remain on the Board as Chair and Chair-elect, respectively.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to welcome Stephanie Parra, Beatriz LeBron, Monica Pimentel, and Sylvia Sanchez Garza onto the NHC board,” said NHC Chair Ruben Archuleta. “These leaders bring a wealth of experience, plus passion and commitment that they have demonstrated at the local and state levels—their impact will now elevate meaningfully to the national level. With our team complete, it’s time for the NHC to get to work!”

Secretary: Stephanie Parra of the Phoenix Union High School District (AZ)
Since 2014, Stephanie Parra has served on the Governing Board of the Phoenix Union High School District in Arizona. Parra is a first-generation American originally from Yuma, Arizona. As one of the first in her family to attend college, Parra saw first-hand the importance of education and the wonders it can do to develop a child’s life and future. Parra holds a B.A. in Justice Studies and Psychology and a Master’s in Higher and Postsecondary Education. Her passion for education led her to past roles at Teach For America, Arizona State University, T.W. Lewis Foundation, and the Arizona Education Association. Parra currently serves as Executive Director of ALL in Education, an organization established to close the gap and achieve better representation on the state’s education policymaking bodies and to increase the number of Latino members on education boards that directly impact policy.

“I am thrilled to join the NSBA National Hispanic Council as Secretary,” said Parra. “As an experienced school board member and the leader of ALL In Education, a nonprofit organization focused on closing gaps in opportunity and improving outcomes for Latino students and families, I appreciate the opportunity to share space with like-minded colleagues from across the country.”

Also appointed to the NHC Board are three new Regional Directors:

• Northeast Region Director: Beatriz LeBron of Rochester City School District (NY)
• Pacific Region Director: Monica Pimentel of Glendale Elementary School District in Arizona (AZ)
• Southern Region Director: Sylvia Sanchez Garza of South Texas Independent School District (TX)

Remaining on the NHC Board for the 2022-2023 term are Central Region Director Guillermo Z. Lopez of Lansing School Board of Education in Michigan and Western Region Director Jeremy G. Maestas of Española Public Schools in New Mexico.

The NHC promotes quality education for all students, with a focus on equity—building access and closing the gap on learning and achievement of Latino students. For more information about NHC or NSBA’s other equity councils, the National Black Council of School Board Members, the National American Indian and Alaska Native Council of School Board Members, and the National Council of Urban Boards of Education, visit www.nsba.org/services.