" EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE! "

By Arlie Ricasa

School Board Member Arlie Ricasa has the experience that makes a difference. Education is her passion. Arlie's professional experience has been and continues to be in the field of education. Arlie has over 18 years of experience in teaching, counseling and educational public policy. She has served on the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) School Board providing critical public policy for the past eight years. As former President and current Vice President of the SUHSD School Board, Arlie creates policy for the largest secondary school district in California, a district with nearly 42,000 students, 5,400 employees and a $324 million budget. Arlie served as President of the San Diego County School Boards Association and Chairperson for the South County Joint Trustees School Board.

Arlie currently serves as the Director of Student Development at Southwestern Community College. She has worked as a professor and academic counselor for Southwestern College and an academic counselor for SUHSD. A lifelong South Bay resident and product of local SUHSD schools, Arlie earned her Master of Science degree at San Diego State University in 1989 and Bachelor's of Arts degree at UCLA in 1988. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Providing Leadership for Achievement

As School Board Member, Arlie has provided leadership to improve academic achievement, increase college and university access, and to expedite the modernization of schools. Since Arlie had taken office in 1998, SUHSD has earned "California Distinguished Schools" awards and increased the number of schools that have received this honor (15). In addition, the number of schools that have received "Golden Bell" awards have gone up from 7 to 20. The District's "Compact for Success" program, implemented in 2000, has sent 1,232 graduates to San Diego State University, an increase of 76% from the inception of the Compact.

SUHSD was awarded the Gear-up Grant of $3.1 million, the largest award given to a school district this year, to improve student preparation and access to college. Through the tremendous dedication of students, teachers and staff, SUHSD schools have won the Academic Decathlon in San Diego County for eight consecutive years. Modernization of schools that were scheduled for completion in 2018 is 11 years ahead of schedule.

Awards and Recognition

Arlie received awards and recognition from local and national entities that range from the chamber of commerce to national publications. Among these are "Who's Who Among America's Teachers", "Who's Who in Collegiate Faculty", "Distinguished Alumnus of the Year" and "Outstanding Professional of the Year". She was recently honored as one of the "Twenty Outstanding Filipino Americans in the United States and Canada" and received the award in Washington, D.C..

Community Activities

Arlie is a member of the Board of Directors for the Chula Vista Police Activities League, MAAC Project of San Diego County and UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association. She served as a member of the Board of Directors for the South Bay Family YMCA and continues to volunteer there. She is a member of the Filipino American Educators Association of San Diego County and the California School Boards Association. She volunteers at local elementary schools and is involved in other numerous community organizations.

Family

Arlie and her husband, Ed Bagaporo, have five beautiful children.