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Rio Hondo College - Home Page / News / School Board Appreciation Month

School Board Appreciation Month

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Río Hondo College | Category: College News

January is School Board Recognition Month, a time to celebrate the dedication and service of California's school board members who work tirelessly to support student success and strengthen our communities.

At Río Hondo College, we are fortunate to have an exceptional Board of Trustees whose commitment to educational excellence shapes the future of thousands of students each year. Our board members volunteer countless hours to establish our college's mission and vision, set policy priorities, oversee the budget, and ensure accountability to our community.

School board members represent one of the largest groups of elected officials in California, serving more than 5,000 school districts and county offices of education. They provide a critical link between our college and the community, offering a level of accessibility and responsiveness that connects directly with the people they serve.

Each week throughout January, we will be sharing a quote from one of our Board of Trustees members, offering insight into their perspective on education, service, and their commitment to Rio Hondo College. These leaders work behind the scenes to ensure that our students have access to quality education, innovative programs, and the resources they need to achieve their goals.

Rosaelva Lomeli

Rosaelva Lomeli

Board President
Trustee Area 3: Whittier, South El Monte

"I serve this deserving community to make a difference, inspire others and ensure every student has the support they need to thrive. As an educator, I've seen firsthand the challenges students face in achieving their goals. I serve on the Board of Trustees at Río Hondo College because I'm passionate about student success and believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed."

Yarisma Rocha

Yarisma Rocha

Vice President, Board of Trustees
Trustee Area 2: City of Pico Rivera, West Whittier

"I proudly serve on the board to advance inclusive educational opportunities, to establish policies that support the college's mission, ensure essential services and pathways for student success, and advocate for student parents."

Kristal Orozco

Kristal Orozco

Clerk, Board of Trustees
Trustee Area 4: Los Nietos, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, North Norwalk

"My children are why I serve, and as a school board member, I am dedicated to creating a future where all students have access to quality education, the support they need to grow and the opportunities to succeed."

Anais Medina Diaz

Anais Medina Diaz

Member, Board of Trustees
Trustee Area 1: City of El Monte

As a resident of the El Monte community, I take great pride in serving on the Río Hondo College Board of Trustees. Río Hondo and the community college system have opened doors for my family and countless others through academic and career pathways and caring support systems. I serve to advocate for equitable policies, critical resources, and expanded academic and career opportunities—because our working communities are deserving of quality higher education.

Oscar Valladares

Oscar Valladares

Member, Board of Trustees
Trustee Area 5: East Whittier

"Community College transformed my life — it is an honor to work to strengthen our county's community college system, a system that champions Student Success through access and completion for all students."

Carlo Flores-Olson

Carlo Flores-Olson

Student Trustee

"I love to serve this campus due to the second chance it has given me in my educational dreams. Due to this second chance, I feel nothing but indebted to this institution. As my way of giving back to this institution, I advocate to take down barriers to any losing their chance to pursue their educational dreams. Each person I positively impact makes this job all the more worth it."

Join us in thanking our Board of Trustees for their service to our students and community.

Thank You, Board of Trustees!

Tags: Anais Medina Diaz, Board of Trustees, California Community Colleges, Community College Leadership, Educational Leadership, Kristal Orozco, Oscar Valladares, Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees, Rosaelva Lomeli, School Board Recognition Month, Student Success, Yarisma Rocha

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Dear Río Hondo College Community,

Río Hondo College plans to restore student access to Canvas and related systems on Sunday, May 10, around 8 a.m. The College is also working closely with faculty to support flexibility for students regarding assignments and exams during this time.

At this time, no decision has been made to postpone final exams. The College continues to evaluate options and monitor the situation carefully to best support student success.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of our students, faculty and staff as we work to restore services.

Sincerely,
Río Hondo College

Notice of Public Hearings

Dear Río Hondo College Community,

Canvas is currently inaccessible due to an ongoing issue affecting Instructure, the parent company of Canvas. Out of an abundance of caution, access to Canvas has been temporarily suspended while the situation is being addressed.

Students and employees are advised to:

  • Avoid attempting to log into Canvas until further notice.
  • Do NOT download or open any file if prompted after navigating to the Canvas login page.

Río Hondo College is actively monitoring the situation and working closely with Instructure to receive updates and support instructional continuity. We understand the disruption this may cause to our campus community and appreciate your patience and understanding. Additional updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,
Information Technology Services Río Hondo College

Dear Río Hondo College Community,

We are pleased to report that the water main break has been repaired and water service has been fully restored to our main campus.  All in-person classes and on-campus activities will resume as scheduled effective Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.  We appreciate the Rio team and our partners at the San Gabriel Valley Water Co. for their tremendous work.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.  Please address any questions to Campus Police at 562-908-3490.

We look forward to seeing you back on campus!

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NOTICE: 

Student Services Building Closure May 26–29. Read More