Board Service

I joined the Wiseburn Board of Trustees in 2005 and have been privileged to serve our community for more than 20 years, including two two-year terms as Board President during two very different but critical periods in our District's history.

Over those years, I have had the opportunity to help guide Wiseburn through some of the most significant changes in our history, from District unification and the establishment and continued growth of our partnership with Da Vinci Schools to the development of the permanent high-school campus at 201 N. Douglas Street and to multiple generations of improvements to our schools. More than two decades of service has also given me something that cannot be gained from reports or meeting minutes alone: Institutional knowledge, a deep understanding of our District and its history. I remember why many of the decisions we made were necessary, the alternatives we considered, the challenges we faced and, just as importantly, what we learned along the way. That perspective helps me understand not only where Wiseburn is today, but how we got here.

At the same time, I believe experience only has value when we continue to listen, learn and adapt. The needs of our students, families, teachers, staff and community continue to change, and our responsibility as Board members is to change with them while remaining focused on what matters most: What is in the best interest of our students.

Leadership as Board President

2012–2013 | Building Wiseburn’s Future

1. Protected Educational Programs During Difficult Financial Times - Helped protect classroom programs, technology, arts and student opportunities during one of the most difficult periods for California public-school funding.

2. Maintained Wiseburn's Tradition of Educational Excellence - Helped lead the District during a period when Wiseburn schools continued to receive state, federal and national recognition for academic achievement and educational excellence.

3. Secured a Permanent Home for Wiseburn–Da Vinci - Led negotiations for the $46 million acquisition of the Douglas property and planning for what would become the permanent Wiseburn–Da Vinci high-school campus.

4. Helped transform Wiseburn from K–8 to TK–12 - As Board President, led 2×2 meetings with CVUHSD & all feeder Districts, led negotiations, SB40 legislations, and helped lead the final stages of unification, including unanimous State Board approval and the community vote that established Wiseburn as a unified school district.

5. Advanced the Wiseburn–Da Vinci Partnership - Helped advance our partnership with Da Vinci Schools and the long-term vision for a permanent high-school campus and expanded educational opportunities for Wiseburn students.

During my four years as President, first in 2012 and 2013 and again in 2023 and 2024, I had the opportunity to help lead the Board through several important decisions and initiatives that continue to shape our District today.

UNIFICATION - Dr. Tom Johnstone and Board President Nelson Martinez (along with Chief Petitioners Lydia Rodriguez and Linda Cuesta not pictured here) attended the State Board of Education (SBE) meeting in Sacramento for Wiseburn's K–12 unification on May 9, 2013. The California State Board of Education voted 10–0 to approve the Unification Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and granted a "narrow area" vote for Wiseburn residents, setting up the successful November 2013 unification vote.

NEW WISEBURN HIGH SCHOOL FACILITY - The planning and design process for the new Wiseburn High School campus was a multi-year effort that transformed an existing four-story, 210,000-square-foot commercial office building into a state-of-the-art joint facility serving three Da Vinci charter high schools and the Wiseburn Unified School District.

2023–2024 | Reinvesting in Wiseburn's Next Generation

1. Launched the $98 Million Measure EE Program - Helped lead the Board as Wiseburn moved the community-approved $98 million Measure EE program into implementation and began the next generation of improvements to our schools.

2. Strengthened Fiscal Stewardship and Accountability - I helped manage our major bond financing and refinancing efforts making sure every dollar was used wisely, while helping establish an independent oversight so our community could see how its Measure EE investment was being spent.

3. Invested $16 Million in Technology and Campus Safety - Helped advance a major districtwide investment in classroom technology, network infrastructure, emergency communications, access control and campus security.

4. Expanded Opportunities and Support for Students - Helped expand arts and music, advance Transitional Kindergarten facilities and maintain our focus on student attendance and support.

5. Advanced the Next Generation of Wiseburn Facilities - Helped advance school modernization, athletic facilities, solar and energy improvements, and other critical infrastructure across the District.

A Shared Commitment to Wiseburn

These accomplishments were never the work of one person. They were made possible through the collective efforts of fellow Board members, District leadership, teachers, staff, parents, students and a community that has consistently supported its schools. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Board President during these two important periods and to help move Wiseburn forward while remaining focused on what matters most: What is in the best interest of our students.