SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Sue Burr, 59, of Rancho Murieta, has been appointed to the California State Board of Education. Burr served as the executive director of the California State Board of Education and as education policy advisor to Governor Brown from 2011 to 2012. She served as the executive director of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association from 2006 to 2011 and was the Association’s governmental relations director from 2003 to 2006.
Burr was the assistant superintendent for business services with the Elk Grove Unified School District from 2000 to 2003. She served as the undersecretary of education under Governor Gray Davis from 1999 to 2000, also serving as interim secretary in 2000. Burr was co-director of the California State University Institute for Education Reform from 1995 to 1999, a principal consultant for the California Senate Education Committee from 1991 to 1994 and a principal consultant for the California Senate Appropriations Committee from 1986 to 1991. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Burr is a Democrat.
Nicolasa Sandoval, 42, of Lompoc, has been appointed to the California State Board of Education. Sandoval has served as the education director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians since 2009 and as a lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara since 2007. She worked at Nonprofit Support Center as a consulting manager from 2008 to 2009 and community outreach specialist from 2007 to 2008. Sandoval was project evaluator at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 2004 to 2006. She served in multiple positions at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian from 1995 to 2002, including assistant director of community services, training coordinator and special assistant for external affairs. Sandoval was a public affairs assistant at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History from 1994 to 1995 and a press assistant at the J. Paul Getty Museum from 1991 to 1993. She earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Arts degree in museum studies from George Washington University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sandoval is registered decline-to-state.
Ilene W. Straus, 63, of Marina del Rey, has been reappointed to the California State Board of Education, where she has served since 2011. She has been an independent consultant on student achievement issues since 2011. Straus was an assistant superintendent for educational services with the Beverly Hills Unified School District from 2006 until 2011. She was senior director of secondary education with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in 2006 and served as the chief educational officer and principal of Santa Monica High School from 2002 to 2006. Straus was principal of Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica from 1986 to 2002. She received the California Secondary Principal of the Year award in 1991. Straus earned a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts degree in educational administration from California State University, Northridge. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Straus is a Democrat.
Sonia Fernandez, 40, of Pomona, has been reappointed to the California Employment Training Panel, where she has served since 2011. Fernandez has been marketing representative at the Laborers’ Employers Cooperation and Education Trust since 2005. She was database manager at the Southern California Laborers’ Joint Apprenticeship Committee from 2002 to 2005. Fernandez was an accounts payable and receivable clerk at the Holiday Candy Company Inc. from 1996 to 1997 and was a personnel administration clerk in the United States Marine Corps from 1993 to 2006. She is a member of Disabled American Veterans. Fernandez earned a Master of Arts degree in leadership and organizational studies from Azusa Pacific University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem. Fernandez is a Democrat.
Janice Roberts, 61, of Stanislaus, has been appointed to the California Employment Training Panel, where she has served since 2006. Roberts has worked in multiple position at Frito-Lay Inc. since 1996, including economic development training manager and California manufacturing department manager. She was California manufacturing department manager at Anheuser-Busch, Eagle Snacks from 1995 to 1996. Roberts was operations manufacturing manager at Sequoia Forest Industries from 1973 to 1995. She is a member of the Network of Executive Women. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Roberts is a Republican.
