NVUSD Celebrates School Board Recognition Month

Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) is proud to join more than 1,000 local educational agencies across the state in celebrating School Board Recognition Month. As schools strive to provide an equitable education for every student, board members play a vital role in establishing the policies, priorities, and foundations necessary for optimal student outcomes. They also serve as a critical bridge between the district and the community.

The NVUSD Board of Education defines the district's vision, directs resources to areas of greatest need, sets annual priorities, and ensures public accountability by monitoring progress toward goals. Their ultimate objective is to elevate student achievement through effective, data-driven, student-centered governance.

In recent years, the NVUSD Board of Education has achieved several key milestones:

• Fiscal Stewardship: Led the district to fiscal solvency despite persistent declining enrollment.
• Academic Commitment: Established a focus on literacy, math improvement, and college and career readiness, resulting in districtwide improvement of CAASPP scores.
• Modernization: Supported the passage of two school bonds, Measure A2 and Measure B, to modernize facilities in American Canyon and Napa.
• Optimal Learning Environments: Focused on improving conditions for teaching, learning, and student achievement.
• Advocacy: Championed TK-12 public education at the local, national, and state levels.

This dedication to continuous improvement was nationally recognized in December 2025, when the California School Boards Association (CSBA) named the NVUSD Board and Superintendent the Governance Team of the Year, honoring them with the prestigious Golden Gavel Award.

"There is a reason our Board of Education was named Governance Team of the Year," said Superintendent Dr. Rosanna Mucetti. "Our Trustees are deeply committed to NVUSD’s long-term vision, and they work tirelessly to ensure that plan comes to life." To best serve the community, NVUSD Trustees actively engage in several strategic areas:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Meet one-on-one with stakeholders to answer questions and advocate for education, and participate in committees such as the Welcoming and Inclusive Schools Committee.
• Formal Collaboration: Meet quarterly with city officials through formal liaison committees and serve as panelists for organizations like the Napa Latino Roundtable.
• Strategic Planning: Craft annual priorities aligned with the district’s strategic plan and participate in CSBA workshops for priority setting, board self-evaluation, and superintendent performance reviews.
• Communication: Launched a Board Communications and Community Engagement Plan in Spring 2025 to optimize community feedback and collaboration.
• Professional Development: All Trustees have earned a Master’s in Governance through CSBA, equipping them with the tools to improve student achievement through effective management.
• Community Presence: Attend local events such as the Napa Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Conference and volunteer at school events like the NOSH Thanksgiving Feast or ride-along experiences on bus routes to better understand district operations.
• Statewide Leadership: Trustees remain active in state legislation and leadership roles; Trustee Robin Jankiewicz serves on the CSBA Board of Directors for Region 3, and Trustee Julianna Villegas Hart serves as a Region 3 Delegate.

Board of Trustees: Lisa W. Chu, Ph.D., President; Elba Gonzalez-Mares, Vice President;  Julianna Villegas Hart, Clerk; Robin Jankiewicz; John Henry Martin; Eve Ryser; Cindy Watter; Superintendent: Dr. Rosanna Mucetti