Board of Trustees
Get to know the Board Members who are currently serving:
Allison Harvey, Board President
Email: aharvey@phusd.org
Term Expires: 2024
Volunteering my time and assisting my community is in my blood. Since I was 9 years old I have made community service a priority in my life and it is my honor to be able to give back to our community and our school district in the capacity of a Trustee for Placer Hills Union School District. I am a product of this district, starting first at Placer Hills School and then attending Weimar Hills School. After graduating from Colfax High School I went on to get a bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism from University of Nevada, Reno and my doctorate in law from McGeorge School of Law. Currently I have my own law practice in Auburn, California and am on or have been on the board of numerous non profit and community organizations such as the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, the Auburn Ski Club, Placer Hills Education Foundation (PHEF) and The Ripple Effect.
When my husband and I were choosing where we wanted to live and raise our children I was drawn to the beautiful community where I had thrived. We chose to live in this district and moved our children from the charter school they attended so they could attend schools in the same district where I had gone to school. The schools were a large factor in our decisions when we chose to move. I understand the importance of having a fiscally sound and academically strong school system. I am constantly impressed by our teachers and staff in the district. I am always interested in learning more from our community members and the parents and to learn different perspectives of those affected by the decisions our board makes. I am dedicated to doing what I can to make our schools the best they can be and strengthening our community while doing it.
Ray Lawrence, Board Clerk
Email: rlawrence@phusd.org
Term Expires: 2024
“It Takes a Village”
I grew up in a small town called North San Juan which is located just outside of Nevada City. It’s a very rural community. Until I was 5 our family lived in a small trailer with no electricity. We actually had to go to a neighbor's house to fill up jugs of water for drinking. We had a small black and white TV that we used to hook up to a car battery at night to watch the one station that we got, channel 3. Yes, we even had an out house. So I truly know what it means to come from nothing, or “to be born in a barn”. We didn’t have a lot of money but we were not “poor”. We had a lot of love in our home and were in the middle of a wonderful community. Neither of my parents graduated High School, but they raised and nurtured my brothers and I. Two of us went on to graduate with Bachelor degrees. I believe that this upbringing has allowed me to have a perspective that I otherwise would not have.
I recognize that we now live in a community where 30% of the children attending our schools are considered economically disadvantaged. 10% of the Children are technically considered homeless. We have EL students, foster kids, and children with numerous learning disabilities. I also recognize that many of our children have fallen behind academically because of the covid lock downs and distance learning. Last year we saw frustration in our teaching staff and our district has lost teachers, some who have been with us for a long time. So I understand that we have our fair share of challenges to overcome, but I believe we can do this. We can do this by coming together as a community. We can do this by continuing to turn a new leaf this year. We can look at the faculty changes as an opportunity to change the culture at the schools. We can continue to take PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) to the “second and third tiers” which is where discipline and accountability come back into the equation.
My family and I have lived in the Meadow Vista Christian Valley for the past 10 years. It is here that we have decided to raise our two boys. That is why we are extremely invested in this community. Also the reason why it is with great pleasure that I get to serve as a Trustee on the local school board. I truly believe that we live in an amazing community and that together we can make our schools shining examples of what schools can be.
Sincerely,
Trustee Ray Lawrence
Sadie Caldas
Email: scaldas@phusd.org
Term Expires: 2026
David McEntire
Email: dmcentire@phusd.org
Term Expires: 2026
Ashley Lopez
Email: alopez@phusd.org
Term Expires: 2026
Appointment Expires: 2024
I grew up in Weimar and attended both Placer Hills and Weimar Hills during my childhood. After graduating from Colfax High School, I went on to major in Spanish at Sacramento State University and to earn a single subject teaching credential in Spanish, and later, a Master's degree in Applied Educational Leadership. I have served as a teacher and also as a school administrator for the past 15 years. As a result of my firsthand experiences, I have a solid foundation of educational knowledge that I will use to help inform board decisions.
In addition to these pieces, I knew early on that I wanted to raise my family in the wonderful community that I grew up in. I have two daughters who attend school within this district, and I am passionate about ensuring that all students receive high quality academic instruction in addition to social skills and social emotional learning. I value the voices of all of our educational partners: students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members and I am committed to hearing diverse perspectives and ensuring growth in our school community.
Placer Hills Union School District
16801 Placer Hills Rd. Meadow Vista, CA 95722
Phone: (530) 878-2606, Fax: (530) 878-2663