School Board Members
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Ernie Nishii of the Board |
Mr. H. Ernie Nishii was born in East Los Angeles and raised in Santa Ana, H. Ernie Nishii learned the value of hard work early, starting a gardening business at age 10 to help pay for college. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from UC Riverside and a Juris Doctorate from UCLA Law, passing the California Bar in 1992.
A devoted husband and father, Ernie’s heart has always been in education and community service. At Leal Elementary, he helped expand an afterschool program that contributed to its Blue Ribbon designation and founded the Winter Arts Festival, ensuring that every child, especially those with special needs, felt part of the school community. He also served as chair for the Safe and Modern Schools Measure BB Committee, which was passed by voters in 2018 and has funded needed improvements and modernization for our schools. He is active in the community, serving on several community boards, including the Southeast Japanese School & Community Center, Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition, and as President of Historic Wintersburg, preserving Japanese American history. With a deep belief in education as a path to justice and opportunity, he works alongside teachers, administrators, and families to keep ABCUSD strong. His family was incarcerated during WWII, and he carries their stories as a reminder: when history is only in books and not in our hearts, we risk repeating it. That’s why he believes in fostering a rich, multidimensional education that inspires students to rise above the past and create a better future. And at the end of the day? He unwinds with his skateboarding dog, Cheerio—because life is about balance. Email address: [email protected] |
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Francisco Noyola Vice President of the Board
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Mr. Francisco Noyola grew up in Hawaiian Gardens and Norwalk attending Hawaiian Elementary, Los Alisos Middle School (Norwalk La-Mirada USD) and Gahr High School. Francisco Noyola earned an associates degree and was on the State Champion Wrestling Team for Cerritos College before transferring to California State University of Long Beach, graduating with a Bachelors in Psychology.
Francisco Noyola started his career as a Recreation Leader for the City of Hawaiian Gardens working directly with local youth as a coach, after school tutor, and park rover. Francisco Noyola pursued a career as a paralegal and case analyst working in the areas of employment, criminal justice, and immigration law before finding his current role with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Office of Violence Prevention. In this role Francisco Noyola works to connect and create partnerships with community residents and stakeholders to implement the Trauma Prevention Initiative (TPI). This Initiative is being implemented in both Hawaiian Gardens and Norwalk to align County services and initiatives to build a comprehensive, place-based approach through innovative programs, policies, and partnerships to reduce violence-related injuries and deaths.
Francisco Noyola is very involved within both communities of Hawaiian Gardens and Norwalk working to create solutions to empower families facing challenges that exist in both communities, for students to learn in a safe and successful learning environment. As an advocate for Community Violence Intervention, he hopes to create solutions to systemic issues through multi-disciplinary systems that focus on community data-driven strategies that are backed with peer-reviewed researched models and evaluated by experts in the field. In his free time Francisco enjoys weight training, cooking, and spending time with his two dogs (Misty and Oreo) and family.
Email address: [email protected]
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 Tatiana Yokoyama Bui
Clerk of the Board
Trustee Area 4 Appointed 2024
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Tatiana Yokoyama Bui, Esq. was raised in Cerritos and attended ABC schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade - Wittmann Elementary and Whitney High School. Tatiana graduated from University of California, Riverside with a Bachelor of Science in Buisness Administration with an emphasis in Management. After years of working in banking and small restaurant management, Tatiana graduated from Western State College of Law.
Tatiana is a trial attorney where the majority of her work is advocating for clients who are not familiar with the law to ensure they are effectively represented. At work, she coordinates events to serve and uplift those in need and the surrounding community. Tatiana served on the Ciry of Cerritos Planning Commission from 2013-2020 and the Let Freedom Ring Committee from 2020-2022. Tatiana served as Western State College of Law Student Bar Association President and Treasurer.
Tatiana has served as a board and committee member of parent-volunteer organizations since 2020. Her time spent volunteering on campus helped her observe directly the impact our educators have on our youth as well as learn about the way our schools function within the district. Tatiana believes parent and family involvement in school and at home reinforces the dedication and commitment of teachers and staff.
Tatiana and her husband are the proud parents of two young children who are ABC students. She is also a proud aunt of nieces and nephews at ABC schools.
Tatiana enjoys time with family and friends, visiting National Parks with her family, watching shows and musicals with her children, and eating her husband's delicious home cooked meals.
Email address: [email protected] |
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 Leticia Mendoza
Member of the Board Trustee Area 1 Elected - 2024 |
Leticia “Letty” Mendoza is a lifelong educator who has dedicated her life to student success, community service, and providing a helping hand to those most in need in our community.
A product of public schools, Letty earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child Development and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Los Angeles. A second-generation educator, Letty has been a local elementary school teacher for the last 27 years. She comes from a family of educators and her husband was also a teacher; in fact, they met while teaching at the same elementary school. Additionally, Letty was the secretary and co-founder of a non-profit organization, the Southern California LEAD Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life of the South East Los Angeles County residents through programs, projects, sponsorships and scholarships based on Leadership, Education, Advancement, and Development. Letty has also been very involved as a parent in the ABC Unified School District. She was a parent volunteer at Niemes Elementary School and is a past president of Ross’ Colorguard Parent Group. She and her family annually support and sponsor local community programs that benefit families and students. In addition to her involvement with ABC USD, Letty has also been involved civically in her community. She was a member of the Artesia Parent Volunteer Group, which supports the City of Artesia's Parks & Recreation Department by raising funds and volunteers at community events. She served as the Team Mom for 3 years on her son’s baseball team at Artesia Park. Letty took the next step in her journey of community service by being the first Artesian to serve on the ABC USD School Board to represent the City of Artesia from 2014 to 2020. In her first term Letty:
With the support of local teachers, parents, and activist, Letty was re-elected to the ABC USD School Board in 2024, to restore the voice of parents, students and teachers on the School Board. With her experience as a public school teacher and former school board member, she brings common-sense solutions to the District’s most complex problems. She will be a voice for all of Artesia, and the District.
Letty is a mother of four children (one who currently attends ABC schools and three who are ABCUSD graduates). She is married to former State Senator Tony Mendoza. Email address: [email protected] |
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 Dr. Olga Rios
Member of the Board Trustee Area 6 Elected - 2017 |
Dr. Olga Rios attended ABC schools. She attended Hawaiian Elementary, Fedde Middle School, and graduated from Artesia High School. Since then, she attained a Bachelor's degree from California State University Long Beach; a Master's Degree from Harvard University; a Teaching Credential from UCLA extensions; an Administrative Credential from UC Irvine; and a Doctorate Degree from USC's Educational Leadership Program. She beat the odds and knowns others can too.
She is also an involved parent. The city of Lakewood has been her home for the past twenty-two years and has been a great place to rise her two children. Her daughter attended ABC schools and graduated from Artesia High School in 2017. Before that, her daughter attended Carmenita Middle School and Leal Elementary. Her son is also making his way through ABC. Participating in her children's education has been a priority for her. She has served on PTA, been PTSA President, and served on School Site Council Committees. She knows the value of parent participation.
Dr. Rios is an advocate for children. Currently, she is a Director for Student Services for a nearby district. Before that, she was a teacher for sixteen years and school administrator for eight years. Dr. Rios believes that her success can only be truly meaningful if she helps others. This has been her mission as a teacher, an administrator, and will be as a Board Member. She understands the importance of preparing all ABC students to be college and or career ready.
In her free time, Dr. Rios enjoys reading, watching her son play baseball, and spending time with her daughter, who is a graduate of CSU San Francisco.
Email address: [email protected] |
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Vacant
Trustee Area 5 |
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 Soo Yoo
Member of the Board
Trustee Area 2
Elected - 2013
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Mrs. Soo Yoo is the Founder and Director of an after school Tutoring and College preparatory academy since 1994. Soo earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of California Irvine and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Soo is fluent in English, Spanish, and Korean languages.
Soo has extensive experience as a College Admission Consultant, newspaper education columnist, speaker for PTA sponsored college prep seminars at ABC Schools, and Committee Member on the City of Cerritos’ Let Freedom Ring Committee. She is also a member of the PTA at Wittmann Elementary and served on the School Site Council at Gahr High School. Additionally, she served as a girl’s volunteer basketball coach for the City of Cerritos Park and Recreation. In 2007, Soo founded the American Red Cross, Gateway Chapter. She is the Artesia/Cerritos Annual Team Sponsor for American Cancer Society-Relay for Life since 2008. Soo is an advisor to the Mid-City Korean Senior Association. A Cerritos resident since 1996, Soo is married to Sam, a Pastor, for 22 years. They have four children: Hannah, Amy, Rachel, and Abigail. They all attended, or attend ABC Schools at Wittmann Elementary, Carmenita Middle School, and Gahr High School. Email address: [email protected]
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