A Message from our President
In the state of California, 12.4% of all public school students are Asian Pacific Islanders - over 741,000 students whose heritages represent over 40 countries and 60 ethnic groups. The unique needs of API students are diverse and too often, overlooked. The Asian Pacific Islander School Board Members Association was formed to support school board members across the state to recognize these needs, and to bring API students into the equity discussions taking place at schools, district offices and in board meetings.
APISBMA responds to current trends and events that affect API students.
Most recently:
- We worked to support approval of the new Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum and the passage of the Ethnic Studies graduation requirement.
- We addressed the controversy over Critical Race Theory as we supported the inclusion of ethnic studies in the schools’ curriculum.
- We provided model templates and resolutions to support board members’ response to anti-Asian hate.
- Most recently, we are highlighting and providing resources to address the mental health and well-being of API students - a group shown to most likely hide or mask their trauma.
For the upcoming year, we are focused on API mental health, and centering the unique needs of API students that are, at first glance, invisible. We are speaking collectively for the sheer diversity of our students whose families span an enormous percentage of the globe. Almost 12% of English Language Learners are API students yet their needs, in smaller language groups, are not addressed. We are surfacing the ways that API students’ and educators’ needs may be unrecognized, or glossed over due to common positive academic indicators that hide distress, or the smaller numbers of individuals in districts. We are working with other student and community advocacy groups to deepen the equity work districts are undertaking.
APISBMA is committed to working closely with the California School Board Association (CSBA) to provide school board members opportunities to discuss challenges and advocacy for API students. We partner to provide workshops and networking events, including CSBA’s Annual Education Conference.
We look forward to an active year of advocacy. I invite you to get involved and become a member; to join us at the Annual Members Meeting and Breakfast, and attend APISBMA events. We encourage and welcome your input! To become a member, click here.
Laurie Fong
President
APISBMA
Laurie Fong, President of APISBMA
2022 APISBMA Board of Directors
Laurie Fong, President
Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, VP North
Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, VP North
Santa Rosa School District
Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, VP North
Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, VP North
Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, VP North
Fremont High School District
Andrea Yamasaki, VP South
Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, VP North
Andrea Yamasaki, VP South
Orange Unified School District
Rosa Kim, Treasurer
Cynthia Chang, Past President
Andrea Yamasaki, VP South
Fremont High School District
Sylvia Leong, Secretary
Cynthia Chang, Past President
Cynthia Chang, Past President
Cupertino Union School District
Cynthia Chang, Past President
Cynthia Chang, Past President
Cynthia Chang, Past President
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District
Amy Koo, Board Member
Shelley Ryan, Board Member
Shelley Ryan, Board Member
Belmont-Redwood Shores
School District
CSBA Director at Large
Shelley Ryan, Board Member
Shelley Ryan, Board Member
Shelley Ryan, Board Member
San Marino Unified School District
Tony Ubalde, Board Member
Shelley Ryan, Board Member
Tony Ubalde, Board Member
Vallejo City Unified School District
CSBA Regional Director
Darrel Woo, Board Member
Darrel Woo, Board Member
Tony Ubalde, Board Member
Sacramento City Unified School District
CSBA Regional Director