SRVUSD Board of Education Fills Vacant Trustee Seat

From SRVUSD: On Monday, June 4, 2018, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s (SRVUSD) Board of Education selected Susanna Ordway to fill the board seat which became vacant on May 23, 2018, with the resignation of Denise Jennison. Ms. Ordway took the oath of office at the June 4th Board meeting. She will serve until the term expires in December 2018.

Nineteen candidates submitted applications. A subcommittee of the Board selected four to be interviewed by the full board at the public meeting on June 4, 2018.

“I want to congratulate Susanna as our appointee to the interim seat on the board,” SRVUSD Board President Ken Mintz said. “We had a very strong field of candidates and any one of our finalists would have been a solid choice. I’m looking forward to Susanna’s background, experience and commitment to education to help fill the void left by Denise Jennison’s resignation.”

"I am very humbled and honored to have been appointed to this important position on the Board of Education,” Ms. Ordway said. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members and Superintendent Rick Schmitt for the benefit of all our students in the San Ramon Valley community."

As a 24-year-resident of the San Ramon Valley, Ms. Ordway joins the SRVUSD with over 10 years of experience working in education, and over 16 years as a parent volunteer. She is the owner and advisor to Susanna Ordway College Consulting where she supports families in navigating the college entrance process. She also serves as an instructor with the City of San Ramon's summer camp and after school enrichment programs, as well as a volunteer coach with ScholarMatch.

Prior to starting her own business, Ms. Ordway worked with SRVUSD students in the classroom as an instructional assistant and paraeducator at Twin Creeks Elementary School, and as an instructor with Venture School. She began her career in the corporate world, in finance marketing, leaving it to teach applied and fine arts, reading and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math integrated art classes. While raising two daughters, Ms. Ordway volunteered extensively at their schools: Twin Creeks Elementary School, Iron Horse Middle School and California High School. After her daughters graduated, she became very involved in the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs where she led the Reflections art program and speaker series.

At the June 4th meeting, Board members also voted to approve Board Member Greg Marvel as the new clerk, filling the position vacated by Jennison.

The Board of Education is a five person policy-making body responsible for the oversight of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Board members work with the Superintendent to provide leadership, establish policies and ensure fiscal accountability. Board meetings are held generally every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s Education Center at 699 Old Orchard Road, Danville. Open meetings are held at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The Board President, Vice President, and Clerk are selected on a rotating basis during the organizational meeting held in December.

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