Leadership with a Vision

As an education leader in Santa Cruz County, Sandra Nichols has dedicated herself to working with members of the education community at the District, State and National levels. Her focus continues to be on Student Success. The following is just a sample of the leaders with whom Sandra has worked and who share Sandra’s interest in excellent schools and effective public education.

In a Feb. 2008 meeting in the Sacramento office of State Senator Joe Simitian (foreground), Sandra Nichols (right) discusses with the senator and Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Michael Watkins (standing) the difficulty legislators have supporting increased school funding.

Sandra represented PVUSD at the National School Boards Association Federal Relations Network in Washington DC in January 2007. Here she gets the endorsement of United States Congressman Sam Farr for CSBA's Pledge to America's School Children campaign.

Sandra challenged the Governor's attacks on public education funding and organized a coalition of education leaders (CampaignSOS) to help defeat his 2005 special election propositions. Joining Sandra at a televised forum were (left to right) Robert Chacanaca, President, Monterey Bay Central Labor Council; George Martinez, California Federation of Teachers Cece Pinheiro, former SCCS Board Trustee; Sandra Nichols; Jackie Tuttle, Live Oak School District; Elsa Silva, PVUSD/CSEA Past President; and Assembly Budget Committee Chairman John Laird.

In support of efforts to bring the community together and keep our schools safe, Sandra gathers with city and county leaders at the Watsonville downtown plaza following a Peace and Unity Rally. Joining her (from right to left) are Santa Cruz County District Attorney Bob Lee, Watsonville Police Chief Terry Medina, Watsonville Mayor Judy Doering-Nielsen, and PVUSD Board President Rhea DeHart.

At the annual Labor Day Picnic in 2004, Sandra shares her concerns about the Federal No Child Left Behind Act and its impact on local schools with US Congressman Sam Farr. Yes, that’s Santa Cruz Mayor Emily Reilly in the background.

Sandra met Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante at his Annual Education Summit in Sacramento. They discussed how the state budget constraints were putting severe pressure on public schools. During this conversation, Sandra spoke passionately about the magic that a teacher brings to the classroom and the role teachers play in a child’s life. Bustamante retold that story when he later addressed the assembly of educators.

Sandra works with state legislators on issues of importance in the Pajaro Valley. Here, she and California Assemblyman Simon Salinas listen to a member of the Service Employees International Union. Sandra supports the rights of workers and is a long-time member of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.

At a ceremony at the new Cabrillo College Environmental Horticulture Center, Sandra shares a light moment with California Assemblyman John Laird, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ellen Pirie, and Watsonville City Councilman Antonio Rivas.

Sandra works with various members of the community in support of the needs of our schools. Here she joins former Watsonville Mayor and City Councilman Chuck Carter, Watsonville City Council Member Ramon Gomez, and Aurelio Gonzales, a community leader striving to improve our schools through greater parent participation.

When California State Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell visited Santa Cruz County, Sandra was there with County Superintendent of Schools Diane Siri (left), and Pajaro Valley Schools Superintendent. The topic of conversation was the extent of budget cuts and their impact on local schools.

During the holiday season, Sandra and her family volunteer with local non-profit organizations. Here, she serves a Loaves and Fishes turkey dinner to needy families and homeless individuals on Christmas Day.

Sandra had never even thought of running for public office when she entered the 1999 special election for a vacant seat on the PVUSD school board. Here she poses with the three other candidates for that seat. Pictured left to right are attorney Michael Barsi, Speech and Language Specialist Sandra Nichols, insurance salesman Rodney Brooks, and high school counselor Antonio Rivas. Sandra, at the time an unknown, lost the election but gained 25 percent of the vote. She would win 52 percent of the vote the following year and took her seat on the board in December 2000.

Sandra supports the Rural Technology Project, a state-wide effort to put computers and computer knowledge into the hands and homes of people of the Pajaro Valley. Here she congratulates a successful participant during the project’s annual graduation dinner celebration.

Television news reporter and anchor Wes Sims and a remote location cameraman interview School Board President Sandra Nichols for later broadcast on KION-TV. Sandra promptly returns all her calls — even those from reporters — because she feels a community’s access to accurate information about the schools is a top priority.

Working with school staff and parent volunteers on improvements at Freedom Elementary School, Sandra joins Watsonville City Councilman Antonio Rivas and Principal Bob Rasmussen, as they survey architectural renderings for new playground equipment. Parent volunteer Peter Stoll, winner of the 2001 Ellen Baskin Award for his volunteer work in local schools is busy working in the background.

The most important people in Sandra’s world are the students. Here she guides a group of students through an activity at Bay View School in Santa Cruz. Sandra has been a Speech and Language Specialist in Santa Cruz County for 23 years and in California public schools for over 30 years.