Participants: San Joaquin Valley Field Campus

MANDY BREUER, GOLDEN CHARTER ACADEMY
Mandy Breuer, founding principal at Golden Charter Academy in Fresno, is known for crafting the highest quality of learning spaces that support the whole student—academically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Breuer mentors teachers and staff, greens physical campuses, counsels students, and designs family involvement opportunities to cultivate empowered, joyous, and connected learning communities. Before her journey into public education, Breuer spent time in marketing with FOX Broadcasting Company. After receiving her B.A. in Public Relations from Texas Tech University and her M.A. in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University, Breuer began her quest to bring environmental justice to the context of public education. Breuer was selected as a recipient of the Dean’s Award for her work in Social Justice while at Loyola Marymount. Her tenure with LA County public schools began in the Compton High School counseling department and as a founding director for a 5th-grade transition program in Lennox, CA. The last decade has seen Breuer building the counseling, academic and environmental programs from the ground up as a school leader at Environmental Charter High School (Lawndale), Larchmont Charter School (Hollywood), and Wonderful College Prep Academy (Delano). Breuer also enjoys music festivals, playing the guitar in a garage band, perfecting plant-based comfort food recipes, and backpacking in our State and National Parks.

BUD DARWIN, SEQUOIA RIVERLANDS TRUST
Bud Darwin utilizes his 30 years of skills and knowledge of working with youth as SRT Education and Volunteer Director. His extensive experience has established a well-rounded perspective regarding the social, emotional, and physical needs of youth. He has facilitated outdoor adventure activities, having safely organized and led hundreds of backpacking, kayaking, and rock climbing expeditions. He has spent thousands of hours using experiential education to create engaging activities that provide participants with fun opportunities for learning, reflection, and self-discovery. He is committed to using and protecting our natural spaces to teach environmental education, conservation, and Leave No Trace practices since 1975.

ROBERT GOLDEN, GOLDEN CHARTER ACADEMY
Robert, one of the most highly-recruited high school football players in the nation, received a football scholarship in 2008 to the University of Arizona, where he earned a degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Social Behavior and Human Understanding. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012, Robert’s leadership skills manifested themselves quickly, and he was voted team captain by his peers in only his second year, the youngest team captain in the Steeler’s vaunted history.  The management of the Steelers selected him as a Player Development Representative, a position requiring great maturity and character.  Player Development Representatives help professional athletes who have not yet finished college return to their universities during the offseason to get their degree.  They also help athletes understand how to conduct themselves as a “professional”, an important education since many players are young men from modest backgrounds who are suddenly earning millions of dollars under the spotlight of a national media.  Player Development Representatives also help younger athletes learn how to budget their finances and how to make wise decisions on and off the field.  That Robert Golden was chosen for these positions at such a young age is a testament to his natural leadership skills. Robert wants to bring his leadership and development abilities to the underserved communities of Fresno. He wants to help children become equipped with knowledge and skills for their future, knowing that exposure to a world-class education will change the trajectory of children and their families. Robert understands, from personal experience, the unequal opportunities that less fortunate families may have to overcome and desires to help children formulate their dreams and develop skills to make those dreams become reality.

NAYAMIN MARTINEZ, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK
Prior to joining CCEJN, Nayamin worked for the Madera County Public Health Department as a Health Education Coordinator and for ten years was the Health Projects Coordinator for the Binational Center for the Development of the Oaxacan Indigenous Communities. Nayamin has vast experience in working with immigrant and indigenous communities across the San Joaquin Valley managing public health programs in a variety of environmental topics including pesticides and air pollution. She has conducted participatory research and launched leadership and civic engagement programs. Nayamin serves in various advisory groups including the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program’s Pests, Pesticides and IPM Project; the Environmental Justice Advisory Group of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District; the Community Stakeholders Advisory Committee of the UC Davis Environmental Health Science Core Center; and the Children’s Health & Air Pollution Study, among others. Nayamin holds a Master’s Degree in both Public Health and Sociology.

STUART PACKARD, BUTTONWILLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT/SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ ASSOCIATION
Packard began his career in the banking industry, but soon found it was not for him. He returned to his alma mater, the University of La Verne, to obtain his teaching credential. After a short stint teaching in the Ontario-Montclair School District, he moved to Kern County where he continued teaching, rising through the ranks, working at various schools throughout the county, settling in Buttonwillow as Superintendent/Principal in 2010. He is now the Superintendent of the district. Packard has served the educational community on several boards, committees and councils — Schools Legal Board of Directors, Kern County Facilities Committee, Kern County SELPA Executive Council, and as an alternate on the SISC Board. He has been a member of the executive board of the Small School Districts’ Association since 2013 and served as Vice President in 2019-2020, with the main focus being Legislative Action. He was named President of the Small School Districts’ Association in September 2020.