We are here to prepare children to be successful citizens.
In This Section
Board Members
The duties of the Board include adopting the annual budget, approving all expenditures, establishing district policy, authorizing employment of personnel, approving textbooks and courses of study, and approving new and innovative academic initiatives.
Ricardo Valencia is a high school educator who grew up in Guadalupe and Santa Maria. He knew he wanted to become a teacher since he was in 10th grade at Santa Maria High School (SMHS). His dream was to return to his community to ensure young people have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. He majored in Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and received a full ride scholarship to Tufts University for his Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). He taught in diverse public schools in Boston prior to teaching at SMHS.
Mr. Valencia was elected to the SMBSD Board in November of 2020.
Ms. Cabral was elected from Trustee Area #1 under the new by-area process for elections. Her term is four years.
Ms. Cabral's family moved to Santa Maria in 1992 from Los Angeles. Her parents started their own business, selling fruits and vegetables at the local swap meet for more than 25 years. She attended El Camino Junior High and Santa Maria High School. In 2002, Ms. Cabral received her degree in Black Studies from UCSB, and in 2006 she received a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies. She works for the Department of Social Service CalWORKs program in Santa Maria, working closely with local families.
“COVID has been a difficult time for everyone. Data shows that children have fallen back on reading and social development. There are rising mental health problems,” Ms. Cabral said. “I want to be part of the group that helps with their recovery, so I ran for School Board. I plan to listen to our educators, parents, and staff to come up with the best solutions to continue to provide the best education for students in Santa Maria-Bonita School District.”
