Rowland Unified Superintendent Presents Oath of Office to
Board of Education Members Park and Venegas
Newly Elected Board Member Ellen Park and Returning Board Member Erik Venegas
Serve Until 2028
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – DECEMBER 16, 2024 – Rowland Unified School District Superintendent Alejandro Flores presented the oath of office at the December 13, 2024, Board of Education meeting to newly elected Board Member Ellen Park and re-elected, unopposed Board Member Erik Venegas. Both will serve the Rowland Unified School District community until December of 2028.
Each Board member must reside within a designated trustee area boundary and is elected by the voters in that trustee area. Ellen Park is a representative of Trustee Area 4 and Erik Venegas is a representative of Trustee Area 2. Click here to view the RUSD Trustee-Area Map.
Park has been an educational leader in public schools for more than 39 years and is a champion for Dual Language Immersion, having built and managed successfully Chinese, Korean and Spanish Dual Language Immersion programs for grades K-8 in both Los Angeles Unified and Hacienda La Puente Unified School Districts. For the past 18 years, Park has served in Hacienda La Puente Unified, serving principalships at both Wedgeworth Elementary and Cedarlane K-8 Academy. Under her leadership at the site and district levels, she has helped garner several state and national awards for Speech and Debate competitions for students in grades 5-12, medals in the Los Angeles County Science Olympiad and Math Field Day competitions and California Distinguished School and Golden Bell awards. Her broad experience includes supporting early childhood programs, after school and summer school learning opportunities.
Park received her Bachelor of Arts in Education and Master’s Degree in Education and Curriculum Instruction from the University of Southern California. She is active in the Korean community, serving on various boards, including the Korean American Educators Association, National Unification Advisory of Los Angeles, Education Committee, and International Korean Educator’s Network.
“I am so excited and honored to begin a new chapter in my career as a RUSD Board Member,” said Park. “I am committed to working together as a team with my fellow board members, educators, staff, families, and community, to ensure we serve all students in our district. Our students come from diverse backgrounds, each with unique strengths, challenges and dreams. I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive, equitable and inspiring environment where every child feels seen, valued, empowered and can achieve their full potential.”
Venegas is excited to return to the Board of Education for his second term. He was an active Nogales High School parent, volunteering for numerous activities including dance, tennis, the Senior Seminar Career Pathways Program and was on the WAAC Accreditation Committee. Venegas is very proud of his work on the Board of Education for the last four years and the many accomplishments and awards received, including the 2024 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for RUSD’s Student Voice approach and the 2022 Golden Bell Award for College Connect, for the District’s focus on equity and making access to a four year university a reality for at-risk students. A few other notable state awards include California Distinguished School awards for Killian Elementary (2020), Ybarra Academy (2020), Blandford Elementary (2020), Rowland High School (2021) and Giano Intermediate (2024), Santana High School being name a 2020 and 2022 California Model Continuation High School, 18 of RUSD schools awarded the 2022 California Pivotal Practice Award, and Hurley Elementary being one of only three schools in the state to receive the “Seal of Excellence Award” for exemplary bilingual education (2020).
Venegas received his Bachelor of Arts in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona and Master’s in Business Administration. He currently works as an engineer in the Aerospace Industry supporting production for Commercial, Military, and Defense industries.
“As I step into this new term, I do so with a renewed commitment to listening, learning and leading in ways that serves our communities’ best interest,” said Venegas. “I am looking forward to working together, tackling challenges, and celebrating successes as we continue this journey of growth, excellence in our schools, and I thank you again for this opportunity to serve.”