Meet the Board

 

A product of local public school districts, Russell graduated from California High School where he served as ASB President. Russell holds a B.A. in political science from Stanford University, an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership for social justice from Loyola Marymount University. Russell has dedicated himself to a career in higher education to help create educational opportunities to others that he was offered as a student.

 

Russell currently serves as the Director of Government and Community Relations at Río Hondo College. He has also served as an adjunct professor of political science for the Los Angeles Community College District. Before arriving at Río Hondo, Russell worked for Loyola Marymount University as a campus minister for community service, and worked for Congressman Xavier Becerra in his Los Angeles district office as a special projects coordinator.

 

Russell has been a Whittier resident for over 45 years. An advocate of public service, Russell has volunteered his time for the Interfaith Food Center, Whittier First Day Coalition, the Whittier Cultural Arts Commission, and the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce. Russell is married to Maria Castañeda Calleros and has embraced the shared vocation of raising three children: Abram, Grace, and Selah. All three children are currently attending Whittier High School. The Castañeda Calleros family remains active with St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Uptown Whittier.

 

Appointed to the Board in 2010.  Current term through November 2026.

 

 

 

 

Trustee Jaime López is a proud homeowner, dedicated union member, volunteer, and community leader. Elected to the Whittier Union Board of Trustees in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Mr. López is dedicated to ensuring every student receives a high-quality education. He recognizes the importance of the high school years and works to provide teachers with the resources, training, and support needed to advance student achievement, equity, and opportunity.

 

Mr. López also champions teacher collaboration and the sharing of effective practices—efforts that strengthen college and career readiness, vocational pathways, mental health supports, and student connectedness, while sustaining strong graduation and A–G completion rates across all comprehensive high schools.

 

A strong advocate for labor and workforce excellence, Mr. López deeply values the District’s dedicated employees. During his tenure, he has helped establish stronger union contracts with the California School Employees Association, the Whittier Secondary Education Association, and the Whittier Adult Teachers Association.  Mr. López also championed and helped secure a Community Workforce Agreement between the District and local trade unions, ensuring that Whittier residents are prioritized for employment on facility and construction projects.

 

Mr. López recognizes that successful athletic programs foster pride and unity within schools and the broader community. He has consistently supported the enhancement of athletic facilities, the development of top-tier fields, and the recruitment of experienced coaches. He also introduced and helped the Board adopt a resolution designating October 6 as National Coaches Day, recognizing the dedication and positive influence of coaches Districtwide.

 

Mr. López represents Whittier Union as a delegate to the California School Boards Association (CSBA), where he contributes to advancing public education policy and leadership development. His previous public service includes appointments to the Río Hondo College Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee and the California High School Site Council. A first-generation college graduate, Mr. López earned his bachelor’s degree in government and Spanish from California State University, Sacramento, and his master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach. Mr. López and his wife, Vanessa, a classroom teacher, are proud parents of two Whittier Union High School District graduates.

 

Elected to the Board in 2020.  Current term through November 2028.

 

 

 

Josefina E. Canchola was sworn into the WUHSD Board of Trustees on July 18, 2023.  She was unanimously appointed by the Board to represent Trustee Area Three. She is a proud product of public education having attended schools in LAUSD and graduated from Pioneer High School in the WUHSD.  Josefina graduated from the University of California, Riverside where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1988.  She also holds a Masters in Management Degree from the University of Phoenix and a certificate on California Politics from the University of Southern California. Josefina has nearly 30 years of expertise in the field of higher education having worked for the University of California’s Office of the President, The University of California, Riverside and most recently with The University of California, Berkeley.

 

Josefina presently serves as Director of Secondary Programs for The Puente Project, an award-winning academic preparation program for underserved, underrepresented students.  Josefina oversees all of the middle and high school programs throughout California including California, Whittier, and La Serna High School Puente Programs in WUHSD.  Josefina has been working for Puente for the last 23 years.

 

Josefina has dedicated much of her time to volunteering to numerous efforts that promote student leadership development, community engagement and empowerment of women and girls.  She is a past president of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) where she has volunteered for over 30 years. She is also involved with Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and is a graduate of their prestigious HOPE Leadership Institute. Josefina is also President-Elect of the University of California, Riverside Alumni Association and will be the first Latina to hold this important position. She has also served the local community twice as an appointed member and once as an elected representative of the California Central Democratic Committee.  She also served as Vice Chair of Rio Hondo College’s Citizens Oversight Committee. Josefina has been a member of the Little Lake City School District’s and Pioneer High School’s LCAP Committees.  Given her dedication to serve, Josefina has received recognitions like The 57th Assembly District’s Woman of Achievement Award and President Barack Obama’s Community Service Award.

 

Josefina is a single parent of three children, her eldest Julia, is also a Pioneer High School graduate.  Her two younger children will eventually join the WUHSD scholar family when they get to high school.

 

Appointed to the Board in 2023.  Current term through November 2028. 

 

 

Irma Rodríguez Moisa was elected to the Board in November 2022.  Ms. Rodríguez Moisa and her husband, Alex M. Moisa, are the parents of three children, all of whom attended high school in the Whittier Union High School District.  Cristina graduated from La Serna High School and went on to earn bachelor's and master’s degrees from U.C. Berkeley and Loyola Marymount University and is a school psychologist.  Alex graduated from La Serna High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Public Policy degree from UCLA.  Alex serves as an environmental policy analyst with the California Public Utilities Commission.  Isaac graduated from Whittier High School and received his bachelor’s degree from U.C. Santa Barbara and is pursuing a career in sports management.
 
Ms. Rodríguez Moisa grew up in Ventura County and she and her family have lived in Whittier for over thirty years.  She is an attorney and a partner at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, headquartered in Cerritos, CA. Ms. Rodríguez Moisa specializes in labor and employment law representing public and private entities.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from U.C. Berkeley, a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University and her law degree from U.C. Berkeley.  In addition to practicing law, Ms. Rodríguez Moisa serves on her Firm’s executive committee, is co-COO and the partner in charge of the Cerritos office.   Ms. Rodríguez Moisa is a proud supporter of many local non-profit organizations and currently serves as the Vice President of the WUHSD Educational Foundation.
 
Ms. Rodríguez Moisa’s service as a Trustee is motivated by her belief that public education is an investment in our future and that the high school experience should be a transformative experience for students.  Ms. Rodriguez Moisa is committed to making decisions that will positively impact students, staff, and the community.

 

Elected to the Board in 2022.  Current term through November 2026. 

 

 

 

 

Appointed to the Board of Trustees January 2026.