School Board Members

Brad Beach President of the Board Trustee Area 4 Elected - 2020	Mr. Brad Beach grew up in Cerritos and attended ABC schools. He went to Bragg Elementary, attended Haskell Middle School, and graduated from Gahr High School. Mr. Beach later attended San Diego State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice (Cum Laude) and a minor in Kinesiology. He is recently graduated from POST Command College and working toward a Master of Science degree in Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego. Mr. Beach has worked in law enforcement for more than 23 years for the State of California and has promoted to the rank of Captain. He serves on the Board of Directors with the International Red Ribbon Movement, which is a non-profit organization that advocates for the prevention of substance abuse by our community’s youth. Mr. Beach is an active member of the community and served on the City of Cerritos Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Cerritos Community Safety Committee. He is a Cerritos Neighborhood Watch Block Captain for Zone 32 and a member of the Los Angeles County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Mr. Beach was also appointed by the Mayor of Cerritos to the Bellflower Unified School District Citizen’s Task Force and served in that capacity for one year. He served as a member of the ABC Strategic Planning Committee and the School of Choice Committee, and he was Chair of the Facilities Committee for the District. Mr. Beach is proud of the Facilities Master Plan that the team created and for the work the School of Choice Committee completed to put the residents as first priority in the School of Choice lottery. He was also PTA President for two years at Nixon Academy and is a proud member of the Nixon Watch DOGS (Dads Of Great Students). In his spare time, Brad enjoys coaching his daughter’s softball team and traveling with his family. He and his wife Marlene, who was a Corpsman in the United States Navy and an Iraq war veteran, are raising their daughters, Addison and Makenzie, in Cerritos, and the girls currently attend ABC schools. Email address: [email protected]

Sophia Tse Vice President of the Board Trustee Area 5 Elected - 2007	Mrs. Sophia Tse was elected to the ABC Board in 2007, re-elected in 2011, 2015, and again in 2020. Sophia Tse teaches at Compton College. She also has instructor licenses on Adult Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation Program lead instructor, STABLE Program. Before that, Mrs. Tse was a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She worked at UCLA in a management position and retired from St Francis Medical Center after 30 years. She taught at Cal State Long Beach and Dominguez colleges for a total of 12 years. Sophia has been a resident of Cerritos for 37 years. All three of her children attended ABC schools. Sophia was involved in her children's schools as a PTSA board member at Carmenita MS and Whitney HS, chairwoman at Whitney HS Chinese PTSA, and volunteer nurse practitioner for Cerritos HS soccer teams. She has served in the community through the following organizations: Chairwoman and Board Member of the Southern California Chinese Culture Association; coach, first aid provider for City of Cerritos soccer teams, team mom for Cerritos Soccer Club, a participant in the March of Dimes Program for Premature Infants, and community instructor for basic life support and parenting classes. Mrs. Tse was the liaison to the Career Technical Education Ad Hoc Board Advisory Committee and many others. She was president for APISBMA. She believes that educational instruction should develop all aspects of the student, including the physical, intellectual, social, and psychological aspects, in order to create a well-rounded individual. She strongly feels that success in a student's education can only occur through strong parental involvement and participation. In her free time, Mrs. Tse enjoys reading, flower arrangement, line dance, growing vegetables, Neighborhood Watch, and also babysitting her two new grandsons. Email address: [email protected]

Ernie Nishii Clerk of the Board Trustee Area 3 Elected - 2017	Mr. H. Ernie Nishii was born in East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights) and raised in Santa Ana, attending a very diverse Saddleback High School. At 10, he started a gardening business, which he used to help pay his way through college. He graduated with a BA in Political Science at the University of California, Riverside, and shortly after that entered and graduated UCLA Law School, passing the California Bar in 1992. He is a husband and a father. At Leal Elementary School, he was part of the LEAP Foundation and grew an afterschool program that was at the core of Leal’s Blue Ribbon designation. He helped create the Winter Arts Festival, which enabled special kids to be part of the school community. Leading the foundation, he improved finances, improved participation, and grew a new bank of leaders to continue the next generation. He has participated in the Whitney Summer Academy and Foundation fundraisers and is a past member of the Whitney Foundation for Educational Excellence, Whitney PTSA, and past Chair for the Safe and Modern Schools Measure BB committee. BB now provides 256 million dollars in needed modernized school facilities and safety enhancements. Mr. Nishii is currently a director on the Southeast Japanese School & Community Center Board, Tuna Canyon Detention Station board, and volunteer legal counsel for Historic Wintersburg. He wants our education to be multidimensional and passionate. His family was incarcerated during WWII, and he remembers stories his grandfather told about what happened. When history is only in our books and not in our hearts—we forget and repeat the sins of our past. Quality education can enable us to rise above this. Recognizing that ABC is an excellent school district, he works to be a partner with administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and the community to make our schools even better. Email address: [email protected]

Christopher Apodaca Member of the Board Trustee Area 7 Elected - 2015	Dr. Christopher Apodaca was born in Santa Ana, California, to a working-class family. As a child, he loved family trips to El Paso, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico, to visit relatives. As a student-athlete, he was on the honor roll, active in school clubs, and volunteered as an altar server at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. At a young age, his mother encouraged him to be involved in the community. His first-ever service project was volunteering during Summer Bible Camp at a convent run by the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (aka Sacred Heart Sisters). Dr. Apodaca has volunteered countless hours with service and charitable organizations. Always with his mother’s voice in the back of his head reminding him, “No matter how rough life gets, remember that there are others who have it rougher.” At the age of 15, he began work as a janitor to help his family keep a roof over their heads, a job that he kept through college to ensure the family made ends meet. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, a Master of Business Administration in Accounting & Finance, and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern California. Dr. Apodaca is actively involved with various non-profits and faith-based organizations. Among them are: the ABC Education Foundation, Community Family Guidance Center, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Order of St. Lazarus, and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. As the representative for Trustee Area Seven, the cornerstone of his agenda is safe and modern learning environments. Specifically, how socio-emotional wellness is the foundation of a quality education and productive life. The theory being that a student of sound mind will produce sound academic results. His doctoral dissertation was written on the positive impact that socio-emotional interventions have on academic outcomes. In 2012 and again in 2014, he was named a “Presidential Management Fellow” semi-finalist. A competitive and prestigious program offered by the United States Office of Personnel Management on behalf of the President. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his Labrador retriever “Abby,” reading biographies of past presidents, and playing the piano. “With education comes empowerment, not just for some but for all. I am proud to be your trustee and look forward to working with you to strengthen our community.” –Board Member Chris Apodaca Email address: [email protected]

Michael Eugenio Member of the Board Trustee Area 1 Elected - 2020	Dr. Michael Ray Eugenio is a family man and has been married to May for 20 years. He has grown up in Cerritos and is a product of the ABC Unified School District, attending Bragg Elementary, Haskell Middle School, and Gahr High School. He continued his involvement with the school district with his three children, Madison and Mason, who graduated from Gahr High School and Cerritos High School. Madeline, a child with special needs, is currently attending Cerritos High School. Her challenges have given great insight into the obstacles families are facing. His love for education continued with his graduating Magna Cum Laude from CSU Dominguez Hills with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education in 2000, then graduating from USC with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2003. Professionally, he is a California State Officer and knows safety is of utmost importance. Dr. Eugenio has also served on Artesia’s Public Safety Commission. He has volunteered as medical staff for the Gahr Wrestling Team, parent volunteer at both marching bands for Ross Academy and Gahr High School, parent volunteer at Elliott Elementary, and a coach for youth flag football and basketball. He also does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Filipino Martial Arts because he knows it teaches discipline, respect, and hard work. Collecting comics is another passion because he has a love for art and wants to preserve a valuable art form for generations to come. Dr. Eugenio wants all children to get the best possible start in life in a safe and healthy environment, with wonderful teachers who will prepare them for the future. He knows that in these unprecedented times, communication is key with parent involvement. He feels blessed to have been a part of this community and now gets to give back even more. Email address: [email protected]

Dr. Olga Rios Member of the Board Trustee Area 6 Elected - 2017	Dr. Olga Rios grew up in Hawaiian Gardens and attended local ABC schools. She attended Hawaiian Elementary, Fedde Middle School, and graduated from Artesia High School. Since then has 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 most recently a Doctorate Degree from USC’s Educational Leadership Program. She beat the odds and knows 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 raise 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 school principal for Bellflower Unified. Before that, she was a teacher for sixteen 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 recent graduate of CSU San Francisco. Email address: [email protected]

Soo Yoo Member of the Board Trustee Area 2 Elected - 2013	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 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]