Board Members

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julia Ruedas is a lifelong resident of El Monte and a product of the El Monte City School District. She attended Shirpser and Gidley schools and graduated from Rosemead High School. Ms. Ruedas attended Azusa Pacific University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership. She obtained a Master's Degree in Public Administration and is a current Doctoral Degree candidate at the University of La Verne.  Currently, Ms. Ruedas serves as a Professor at the University of California Davis, Extension and Placer County Office of Education, specializing in the area of Early Childhood Education. Julia also conducts professional development trainings in local, state, and national nonprofit organizations.  Ms. Ruedas has dedicated her life to students and their families. The eldest of five siblings and daughter of hard working immigrant parents who came from Mexico for a better life, Ms. Ruedas credits her parents for instilling the value of quality education.

 

Ms. Ruedas also serves as a board member at Spiritt Family Services and is a member of the El Monte Union High School District Citizen's Oversight Committee where she ensures that tax dollars are used appropriately to build modern and energy efficient schools. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Siegrist has served on the El Monte City School District Board since 2016. He has been a member of the El Monte community for over 46 years, with active roles as teacher, parent, and community leader. Mr. Siegrist earned a Bachelor's Degree in American, Latin American, and Asian History from California State University, Long Beach and a Master's Degree in K-12 Education from Pepperdine University. He also holds graduation and Valedictorian honors from the U.S. Defense Department's Language Institute (Thai and Laotian). In addition to his educational experience, Mr. Siegrist is a Vietnam War Veteran, serving six years with the U.S. Navy, as well as co-serviced with the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. After his time with the military, Mr. Siegrist carved out a career as a Bilingual Elementary School Teacher, High School Spanish Teacher, and college professor throughout El Monte, Monrovia, and Riverside. In fact, Mr. Siegrist spent time as a Bilingual TOSA for El Monte City School District and a Bilingual Math/Science Consultant for the Mountain View Elementary School District. The universities where Mr. Siegrist instructed includes: University of Redlands, Universidad de las Americas, and USC. Throughout his career, Mr. Siegrist has held numerous public positions, including: El Monte Trustee at Rio Hondo College, State of California Senior Assemblyman in the 49th Assembly District, Commissioner in the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults, and Commissioner for the El Monte Sister Cities Program.

 

Mr. Siegrist is the proud father of three children, all of whom attended Durfee School and graduated from Arroyo High School. He raised them alongside his wife of over 46 years, Community College and UNAM Professor, Hermila Esthela Torres de Siegrist.