Teresa Murillo cites job and family demands as reasons to step down
Published in the December 19, 2018 – January 1, 2019
Teresa Murillo
The Morgan Hill Unified School District is finding itself with nearly a complete reset of its board with five brand-new trustees elected in November and board member Teresa Murillo resigning, leading to an appointment to replace her.
The new trustees sworn in at the Dec. 11 board meeting were Carol Gittens, John Horner, Wendy Sullivan, Vanessa Sutter and Heather Orosco. Trustee Mary Patterson, elected in 2016 and the only trustee with MHUSD board experience, was the only nomination for board president and received a unanimous vote. Gittens was unanimously voted as vice-president.
MHUSD Superintendent Steve Betando said he is confident that both leaders will be catalysts in the newly seated board to enhance Morgan Hill’s vision for its students.
“I have recently had the opportunity to interact with all of the trustees in different settings. We recently attended the California School Board conference together for three days in San Francisco,” he said. “We also interfaced during the board’s orientation and have now gathered during our first board meeting which lasted five and a half hours doing meaningful work as a governance team. I am impressed with the positive student and staff focused discussions, the decision-making and the rich qualities that each trustee brings to the team.”
The board unanimously voted to appoint a trustee instead of hold an election to fill Murillo’s seat. The resignation is effective Jan. 31, 2019. Murillo made the decision to step down due to her job and family demands. She has confidence in the district finding a replacement with the time and dedication to serve as a board member, Betando said.
“Teresa has been a pleasure to work with both personally and at the dais,” he said. “She has provided wonderful insight from the perspective of a caring parent and community member during her time on the board. I have especially appreciated Trustee Murillo’s ability to view issues and decisions through the eyes of the community, always with empathy for those who might be marginalized.”
Mary Patterson
Educating and supporting children is a “sacred duty,” Patterson said.
“As board president, my job is to make sure we govern together with the superintendent in the most efficient, informed, compassionate and intelligent way possible – in a way that reflects the values and needs of this community, and in a way that gives every single child the best shot possible at success,” she said.
