Meet the Board
Beatriz "Bea" Arkin, Clerk
Bea Arkin was first elected to the Ukiah Board of Education in 2001 and is currently serving her 5th term. As a parent of children who attended Ukiah schools, Ms. Arkin volunteered for 30 years in various classrooms and grades. She has been active in school PTA’s and has served on School Site Councils at all levels; elementary, middle school and high school. Ms. Arkin may be reached via e-mail at: [email protected]
Trustee Area 1 - Current Term Expires 12/9/2022
Susan Asbury
Susan Asbury was elected in 2020. Susan was born in San Jose, CA, and moved to Mendocino County in 1972 at the age of seven. She attended Ukiah Unified schools as a child and is a 1983 Ukiah High School graduate. Asbury served in the U.S. Army and spent close to 20 years working at Friedman’s Home Improvement. Susan drove a Ukiah Unified bus for four years, and she is currently the Customer Service Concierge at Ken Fowler Auto Center in Ukiah, CA. Susan and her wife Nina were married in 2008 and have adopted seven children, all of who attend or have attended Ukiah Unified schools. Susan is a long-time volunteer at Calpella Elementary, where all of the Asbury children started their education. She may be reached at: [email protected].
Trustee Area 2 - Current Term Expires 12/09/2022
Carolyn Barrett
Carolyn Barrett was elected to the Ukiah Board of Education in 2013, after retiring as a teacher, principal, and assessment coordinator for Ukiah Unified School District. Carolyn and her husband, James, moved to Ukiah in 1965. They have two children, Bryan and Kim, who graduated from Ukiah High and are both educators. They have two grandchildren who currently attend Ukiah schools and a granddaughter in college. Carolyn received her BA in History and MA in Education Administration from Sonoma State University. She holds a Life Teaching Credential and an Administrative Services Credential. She may be reached via e-mail at: [email protected]
Trustee Area 5 - Current Term Expires 12/9/2022
Zoey Fernandez, President
Zoey Fernandez was elected to the Ukiah Unified Board of Education in 2013. Zoey is a lifelong Mendocino County resident. She is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz and earned her teaching credential from Sonoma State University. She taught kindergarten for Willits Unified School District for ten years. Her time is now devoted to her two young children, as well as volunteering at their Ukiah Unified School. Zoey may be reached via email at: [email protected]
Trustee Area 3 - Current Term Expires 12/13/2024
Fred Keplinger
Fred Keplinger was appointed to the Ukiah Unified Board of Education in April 2022.
Fred was raised in Ukiah and has lived here for most of his life. He is the father of an Eagle Peak Middle School student, two Ukiah High School graduates, and is an Emergency Management Coordinator for the Redwood Coast Regional Center. Mr. Keplinger is a retired Ukiah Police Officer and previously served as the Ukiah Police Officers Association president. Mr. Keplinger was the cadet coordinator for the Ukiah Police Department while serving there. He has been the Volunteer Liaison for Devil Pups of America, a demanding physical and academic good citizenship program for teenagers, until the pandemic paused the program for the last several years. He also taught fifth grade at Eagle Peak Middle School. He may be reached via e-mail at: [email protected]
Trustee Area 2 - Current Term Expires 12/9/2022
Tyler Nelson, Vice President
Tyler Nelson was elected to the Ukiah Unified Board of Education in 2013. A graduate of Ukiah High, he earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agriculture Business at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He resides in the Hopland area with his wife and two children. In addition to farming with his father Greg Nelson and brother Chris Nelson, Tyler has been an active volunteer serving as PTA and Site Council member at his children’s Ukiah Unified school. He has previously served as a Director of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau and the Mendocino County Resource Conservation district. Tyler may be reached via email at: [email protected]
Trustee Area 7 - Current Term Expires 12/9/2022
Megan Van Sant
Megan Van Sant was elected to the Ukiah Unified Board of Education in 2011. Ms. Van Sant attended public schools in rural Humboldt County. She has a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a master's degree from UC Berkeley. Ms. Van Sant is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and a graduate of Leadership Mendocino. She is currently an employee of the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency, serving as the Senior Program Manager responsible for the Advocacy and Collaboration Team. Ms. Van Sant and her husband have two daughters attending Pomolita Middle School and Ukiah High School. Ms. Van Sant may be reached via e-mail at: [email protected]
Trustee Area 5 - Current Term Expires 12/13/2024