Governing Board

Ms. Ruth Escarcega Newell is a senior project manager for JLL/Capital One Financial Corporation. She began her nearly 20 year banking career with Washington Mutual (Great Western) before serving in senior positions with JLL/Bank of America. Her areas of expertise include managing projects, community involvement and building effective and efficient teams. She has leveraged those skills in her community over the past eight years by serving on charter school boards. She is committed to building sustainable relationships with other school board members and representatives in order to hold schools accountable to an effective and rigorous education. Ruth Escarcega Newell strongly believes that all students deserve a school that is dedicated to their future regardless of the instructional method or model.

Ms. Carol Stanford is a trustee for the Palmdale School District and served as an instructional coach and AP/IB English teacher at Antelope Valley High School for more than 30 years. She was awarded the 2001 Teacher of the Year by L.A. County, received the Highland High School Hall of Fame, the Antelope Valley High School Distinguished Service Award, nominated for the Athena Award, and is co-founder of the Ana Verde Hills Town Council in Palmdale California.

For over 20 years, Ms. Victoria Hancock oversaw the City of Palmdale’s City Clerk Department in which she was responsible for overseeing all city elections for mayor, city council and measures in addition to being the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and FPPC contact for all candidates. Hancock has served as a substitute teacher at Palmdale School District, and held board CEO for MACRO Homes, a group home for girls in L.A. County. Her passion over the past several years has been to serve on non-profit education boards whose mission is to serve the neediest of youth and to provide opportunities to this underserved population.

Jacqueline R. Reynoso possesses 15 years of executive management experience in policy advocacy, program development, stakeholder engagement and regional planning efforts in San Diego. Ms. Reynoso is the Director of Programs and Policy for Cordoba Corporation. Ms. Reynoso previously served as the President and CEO of the National City Chamber of Commerce for 12 years. Ms. Reynoso’s professional leadership includes diverse positions such as President of ARTS, a creative youth development organization; Chairwoman of the Southwestern College Mariachi Scholarship Foundation; Treasurer of Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center at the International Community Foundation; Founder and Organizer of the International Mariachi Festival & Competition; Audit Chair for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest; and most recently, Founder and President of the National City Chamber Foundation.
Ms. Reynoso maintains active participation with the United States Small Business Association Advisory Board, Mexican American Business and Professionals Association, South County Economic Development Council, United States Chamber of Commerce, Pro Salud Board Member in Mexico, and USS Midway Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board. Ms. Reynoso’s interest and acumen in public policy earned her a seat as a UC Public Policy International Affairs fellow at the Goldman School of Public Policy. In 2002, Ms. Reynoso graduated magna cum laude from UC Berkeley and received a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Public Policy. In 2006, Ms. Reynoso was awarded the prestigious presidential scholarship and earned her Masters Degree in Public Policy and Public Finance from Harvard University at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. From 2001-2002, she studied Italian Language and Culture in Siena, Italy, at the Universita Per Stranieri. Jacqueline is also a graduate of San Diego County’s Water Academy, which prepares the next generation of water management leaders.

Ms. Susan Alderson is the technical director and senior civilian at Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA), providing strategic vision and advocacy to its 400+ members. MCTSSA provides organic testing, engineering and warfighter support in all command-and-control systems, equipment and processes. A native of Oceanside, Calif., Alderson’s 25-year career has utilized her background in technology coupled with her leadership skills to support numerous essential military developments and operations.

Alderson is active in her church by volunteering at summer camp, the food pantry and as an elementary-level teacher. She volunteers with community organizations like Quilts of Love, which makes quilts for local hospice and hospitals. As a member of the Fire Fighter Lookout Association, she helps restore, maintain and staff historic fire lookouts in San Diego and Riverside Counties.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from San Diego University, a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a certificate in Anti-Submarine Warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School.