Vanessa is the executive director of Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco, a national organization which promotes the fundamental value of public education. Vanessa has exceptional knowledge and wisdom serving the public, including over a decade of experience working within the K-12 school districts, community colleges across California, and other various organizations.
Vanessa has been recently appointed to the The Justice and Equity for Transformation Council of the Office of Racial Equity (ORE) is a division of the SF Human Rights Commission, we make decisions and take action to help the Office of Racial Equity fulfill its guiding vision of transforming systems to support the collective liberation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in San Francisco. Racial Equity Key Issues areas, include Housing, Land Use, Homelessness; Youth and Elders; LGBTQIA+ and Gender Justice, Economic Justice, Workforce and Fair Employment, Community Health and Wellness, Information Technology and Digital Equity, Arts and Culture, Transportation and Mobility, Policing and Criminal Justice, Climate and Environment, Food Justice and Sovereignty and Education, Knowledge, Community Wisdom.
Vanessa has received recognitions, including a Letter of Recommendation by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to work with the Biden-Harris Administration in 2020. Vanessa was named Latina of Influence in 2021 by Hispanic Lifestyle. Vanessa holds recognitions for her service, Certificate of Recognition, 2019, California State Senate and the 22nd Senate District, Certificate of Recognition, 2019, California Legislature and the 53rd Assembly District, Recognition for Effective Partnerships, 2010, U.S. Department of Education and most proudly, “Thank a Teacher”, 2010, San Francisco Teachers for Social Justice.
Vanessa has served as keynote Speaker, National Equity Project & California Teachers Association, 2017, Symposium on Alternatives to Suspensions, Presenter, Presenter, California Educating for Careers Conference, 2020; Creating Structure for Today’s Workforce for High School Students , Presenter, California Community College Association for Occupational Education 2019; Partnerships Work: Pathways to Public Service.
Vanessa is a doctoral candidate at USC Rossier School of Education, Organizational Change and Leadership program, where she is a student ambassador and President of a student organization focused on representing students’ perspectives, interests, and priorities related to forwarding our mission of equity, including priorities related to promoting racial equity and disrupting anti-Blackness in the OCL Program.