As a public school educator for over 27 years, Dr. Roxane Fuentes has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, principal, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, and Interim Superintendent, before becoming the first Latina Superintendent of the Berryessa Union School District in 2017.  

 

As a first generation college student herself, Dr. Fuentes has worked to close the achievement gap by nurturing strong parent and community engagement, providing innovative learning experiences for students, all while promoting a culture of equity, collaboration, and support throughout her career.  She is passionately committed to the power and promise of public education as a nexus of community advancement and economic growth. Under her leadership in Berryessa, student learning experiences and opportunities continue to expand.

 

Dr. Fuentes' highest honor was being recognized as Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council "Citizen of the Year" for 2022.  Dr. Fuentes currently serves as ACSA Region 8 State Board Member and President-Elect.  Also, strongly committed to the support and advancement of equity leaders, Dr. Fuentes also serves as the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) President.  She has served as a mentor in the USC Rossier doctoral program as well as a mentor for CALSA’s mentoring program.  In 2015, Dr. Fuentes was selected as the ACSA Region 15 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year. She was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Women of Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2019.  In addition, Dr. Fuentes was recognized in 2019 as CALSA’s "Honoring Our Own" Superintendent of the Year. Most recently, Dr. Fuentes was invited to be a panelist for the USC Rossier’s “New Vision for Schools” leadership series hosted by Pedro Noguera and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond regarding the importance of mental health services for students during the pandemic.

Dr. Fuentes earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Southern California, her master’s degree in History at California State University, Fullerton, a second master’s degree in Education Administration at California State University, Long Beach, and her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California.  She is a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa scholar society and a recipient of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.