County Board of Education Has New President and VP

Photo: Eileen McDonald (left) and Aisha Knowles (right) are the new Vice President and President of the Alameda County Board of Education. Courtesy: The Alameda County Office of Education

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New leadership is in place overseeing education in Alameda County. The Office of Education announced:

The Alameda County Board of Education (ACBOE) celebrates the appointment of Aisha Knowles as President and Eileen McDonald as Vice President for 2015-16.

President Knowles previously acted as Board Vice President, and serves as Trustee of Area 4 representing San Leandro and the western unincorporated communities of Ashland, Castro Valley, and San Lorenzo as well as West Dublin up to the I-680 freeway. Knowles replaces previous Board President Marlon McWilson, who will continue his role as Trustee of Area 2 representing Alameda and portions of Oakland including West Oakland, East Oakland, Elmhurst, and Millsmont south to Shefield Village.

Before Trustee McWilson passed his presidential gavel to Knowles, Trustee Ken Berrick expressed a heartfelt thank you for McWilson’s leadership.

“Thank you [Trustee Marlon McWilson] for your service, for your passion, and for your heart for our students,” said Trustee Berrick.

On passing the board presidency to Trustee Knowles, Trustee McWilson expressed his gratitude to his fellow board members, community, and family.

President Knowles is known throughout the county for her active role in the community through her role as Public Information Officer for the Alameda County Fire Department as well as many community leadership roles including chairperson for the Ashland Citizen’s Advisory Committee, District 4 Representative for the Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women, and a member of the Eden Area League of Women Voters.

Trustee McWilson expressed his gratitude for President Knowles’ leadership and commitment to youth and families in Area 4 and across Alameda County.

“Aisha is so committed to her community. To have her job as Public Information Officer [of the Alameda County Fire Department] and to do everything she does here and in the community ... is literally amazing,” said Trustee McWilson. “I’ve enjoyed watching your development... and I look forward to serving under you as President.”

Newly elected Vice President McDonald serves as Trustee of Area 6 representing Newark and the northern and western portion of Fremont.