Murrieta Valley USD Appoints Area 1 Board of Education Trustee

MURRIETA, CA — An open seat on the Murrieta Valley Unified School District governing board has been filled.

During a special board meeting Wednesday night, Dr. Takesha Cooper was unanimously appointed to serve as Trustee Area 1, the boundaries of which cover the Cole Canyon Area, Bear Creek, and all the Santa Rosa Plateau communities.

Trustee Area 5 member Paul Diffley was absent during Wednesday's special meeting and therefore did not cast a vote.

Cooper is following in the footsteps of Oscar Rivas who announced his resignation in November due to a relocation that put him outside of the Area 1 boundaries.

"I am incredibly honored and humbled by this appointment, especially when you consider the excellent quality of applicants," Cooper said in a released statement. "I am excited to serve the students and staff of the MVUSD community. I have great respect for our public school system having spent my entire K-12 education in Riverside County public schools."

Cooper is a physician and Murrieta Valley USD parent of two secondary students. She currently works as a health sciences clinical associate professor for the University of California Riverside School of Medicine in the campus's department of psychiatry and neurosciences. She also serves as the chair of admissions; psychiatry residency training director; vice-chair of education; and equity advisor for the UCR School of Medicine.

Cooper has served in a voluntary capacity for the Cole Canyon School Counselor Advisory Council, the African American Parents Advisory Committee, National Association of the Mentally Ill, Inland Empire Eating Disorder Collaboration and was a keynote speaker for the 2019 State of Coachella Valley, Child Abuse Stakeholder Discussion Panel.

Cooper intends to continue her work while serving the MVUSD.

"I look forward to continuing my support for public education as an employee of the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine and as an MVUSD board member," she said.

"My desire to have a meaningful impact on the education and health of our community is increasingly important as is my understanding that access to quality education is a social determinant that I am committed to improving for everyone in Murrieta," Cooper continued.

Cooper’s term on the MVUSD board was by provisional appointment and will expire in November 2022. At that time, she can seek election for a four-year term.

Cooper was one of 10 candidates who submitted timely applications, met residency and voter registration requirements, and was invited to Wednesday's public interview process before the board.

Cooper's appointment will become effective within 30 days, unless a qualified petition is filed with the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools requesting a special election to fill the vacancy.

"The Murrieta community continues to amaze me with the outstanding board candidates who desire to serve our students and staff," MVUSD Board President Kris Thomasian said in a released statement. "Takesha exemplifies a passion for public education and expertise in public policy needed to move the district forward while focusing on what is best for students."