Board President

Florencio F. Briones was re-elected in November 2022 and currently serves as President of the El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees.  

Elected 2017 - 2022, re-elected 2022 - 2026.

BIO

Trustee Florencio Briones is a lifelong resident of El Monte. He was elected to the El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees in 2017 and reelected in 2022. He is the first openly gay man to serve on the board. 

Prior to being elected to the board, Trustee Briones worked as a classified school employee in the Information Technology field and was a member of the California School Employees Association, Chapter 11. Following that role, Trustee Briones expanded his public service experience, working as a Senior Deputy Supervisor and LGBTQ Liaison for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Trustee Briones worked on LGBTQ issues, housing and homelessness, and environmental justice policy in the San Gabriel Valley. As a Deputy Supervisor, Trustee Briones also served as a director for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, where he served on the Homelessness Committee and the Council of Government’s governing board.

During his tenure on the board, Trustee Briones has served as Board President in 2020 and 2021, where he led the board through the COVID-19 pandemic. Trustee Briones is also a twice-elected delegate to the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly, representing school districts in Region 23-B, and he is the district’s appointed representative to the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association. Trustee Briones has made state and federal advocacy a priority, working to secure additional resources and funding for our schools.

Trustee Briones is also a dedicated volunteer in the community. As a member of the El Monte Women’s Club, he takes on the important role of chairing the student scholarship committee. Trustee Briones is also a director of the El Monte Historical Society, preserving the rich history of our community, and a volunteer with the El Monte/South El Monte Meals on Wheels organization, serving those in need.

Trustee Briones' educational journey is a testament to his commitment to learning and personal growth. A proud product of El Monte schools, he graduated from Mountain View High School in 2000. He furthered his education at Pasadena City College, earning a certificate in Computer Information Systems and associate degrees in History, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Science. Trustee Briones is a proud graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and graduated cum laude.

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Board Vice President

Luis G. Guzman, Psy.D. was elected in November 2024 and currently serves as Vice President of the El Monte Union High School District.

Board Clerk

Maritza C. Galaviz, Ed.D. was appointed in lieu of election in November 2024 and currently serves as Clerk of the El Monte Union High School District.

Board Member

Qui Nguyen was elected in November 2022 and currently serves as a member of the El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees.

Board Member

Ricardo Padilla was re-elected in November 2022 and currently serves as Member of the El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees.  

Elected 2013 - 2017, re-elected 2017 - 2022, re-elected 2022 - 2026.

BIO

Ricardo Padilla is a longtime resident of the city of El Monte. He attended Rio Vista Elementary and Charles E. Gidley Middle School in the El Monte City School District. Ricardo went on to graduate from Rosemead High School and then attended college to earn several degrees and certifications in education.  Ricardo has worked in education for the past 23 years in the El Monte City School District. He has experience as an Instructional Assistant, ESL Teacher, AVID Coordinator and his current assignment for the past 16 years as an Outreach Consultant with the Child Welfare and Attendance Department. Ricardo has also been the proud recipient of the prestigious Golden Oak Service Award from the PTA and the Association of California School Administrators' (ACSA) Golden Apple Award.  In his spare time, Ricardo serves as President of the El Monte-South El Monte Emergency Resources Association, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping struggling individuals and families.