The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) Board of Education appointed Ms. Alicia LaVere to serve as Trustee for Area 3 at a Special Board of Education meeting that was held on September 26, 2023. Six candidates were interviewed that day, with the Board choosing LaVere to serve in the role. Trustee LaVere will take the seat of former Trustee Amy Callahan, who, after serving two and a half years of a four-year term, announced her decision to resign for personal reasons last month.
Trustee LaVere is familiar with VUSD. She is a parent of two elementary-age children in the District, served as a member of the Loma Vista Elementary School Site Council, and currently as its PTA President. Trustee LaVere is an Occupational Therapist who has worked at various hospitals and skilled nursing facilities throughout the county. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and a Master of Arts Degree in Occupational Therapy.
“We are grateful to have had six highly capable and dedicated candidates for our open board position. It shows just how important our students and schools are to this community,” stated Board President Sabrena Rodriguez. “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Alicia LaVere, a committed parent volunteer and enthusiastic supporter of public education. I look forward to working with her and my colleagues to ensure we provide a high-quality, student-centered experience for all of our community’s children.”
Trustee LaVere will serve on the Board until December 2024, the time left on Callahan’s term. She would then have to run in the November 2024 election to serve another term.
“As a mother of two children in the Ventura Unified School District, I have always held education and the welfare of our students in the highest regard,” stated Trustee LaVere. “I am humbled to have been chosen for this extremely important position, and it will be a privilege to serve alongside the current board members as we work together with the common goal of supporting our students, staff, and community.
“We are so pleased to have Trustee LaVere join our governance team. Her experiences as an engaged parent, PTA leader, and dedicated healthcare professional complements the diversity of our Board of Education,” stated Superintendent, Dr. Antonio Castro. “She is someone who is committed to the tenets of public service and who will immediately contribute a unique voice in promoting the promise of our schools.”
Holding public office is not a new concept for Trustee LaVere’s family; her husband is Ventura County Supervisor, District 1, Matt LaVere.
