SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Friday, Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Constance Blackburn, 61, of Poway, has been appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, where she has served since 2008.
Blackburn has been a teacher with the Escondido Union School District since 1985. She was a special education teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing with the Aldine Independent School District from 1979 to 1981, the Houston Independent School District in 1979 and the Jefferson County School District from 1977 to 1978. Blackburn earned a Master of Arts degree in education from California State University, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Blackburn is registered decline-to-state.
Charles Gahagan, 65, of Moreno Valley, has been appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, where he has served since 2009. Gahagan has been a teacher at Canyon Springs High School since 1986 and taught at Mount Clemens High School from 1974 to 1986 and 1969 to 1971. He was a translator and transcriber for the United States Army from 1971 to 1974. Gahagan earned a Master of Arts degree in English literature from Oakland University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gahagan is a Democrat.
Alicia Williamson, 35, of Campbell, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, where she has served since 2011. Williamson has been a teacher with the Cambrian School District since 2001 and has served as the president of the Cambrian District Teachers Association since 2010. Williamson earned a Master of Education degree in educational administration from National University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Williamson is a Democrat.
Renata Simril, 44, of Studio City, has been appointed to the California Science Center Board of Directors. Simril has been senior vice president of external affairs for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012. She was managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle Public Institution Practice from 2010 to 2012, senior vice president at Forest City Development from 2005 to 2009 and deputy mayor for economic development at the Office of Mayor James K. Hahn from 2002 to 2004. Simril was vice president for real estate development at Genesis LA Urban Growth Corporation and director of development at LCOR Public and Private Inc. from 2000 to 2004. She served as planning deputy for former Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas from 1993 to 1998. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Simril is registered decline-to-state.
