Governance corner
Practical tips from our MIG faculty
In Memoriam – Teri Lynne Vigil
Teri Lynne Vigil Headshot
Dear education leaders:

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the loss of one our own, Teri Vigil, on Nov. 24, 2021. This news comes as a great shock to me and I imagine to you as well. Teri had an engaging, effervescent personality. She was so full of life, and light, and energy, it’s hard to imagine that she’s no longer with us. I will miss her warm personality and ever-present bubbly smile. To know Teri was to truly know someone who cared not only about the work she did, but the people around her. CSBA will continue to honor her as a model of service to family, community, public schools and students throughout the state.

As a trustee of more than 25 years in the Fall River Joint Unified School District, our resident expert on small school districts, a search consultant identifying superintendent candidates, a professional learning facilitator helping districts navigate the Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control and Accountability Plan process, and the primary author of the “Boardwise” column in CSBA’s magazine California Schools, Teri epitomized the values of CSBA. She was a board president, a colleague, a friend and a teacher who helped other school board members become better trustees through her work as a faculty member in our Masters in Governance program.

CSBA Director of Trainings Darcel Lee said Teri’s dedication to California students was a quality that persisted into the final days of her life. “Teri was committed to her family. She loved her children and was so proud of their accomplishments. Her family and her work meant everything to her,” said Lee, who was Teri’s supervisor. “Even as she lay sick in the hospital, she told me that she wanted to get better because she had so much left to do to make a difference for our students. She said, ‘They are all like my kids.’ Teri took her work to heart and she always wanted to make sure she was impartial and fair. She would call and ask me, ‘Does this approach make sense to you? Does this sound like it will be a helpful strategy?’ Teri was always concerned with doing the right thing.”

Teri’s MIG colleagues remember her as “a light,” “warm,” “positive,” “caring,” “engaging,” “giving,” “honest,” “empathetic” and “a true professional.” They all praised her commitment, her willingness to help others, and her sense of service. The members who had the chance to work with and learn from Teri had a similar experience.

“She was beloved by my board and her work was so important to our district,” said Doc Ervin, San Bernadino USD superintendent. “Teri was one of the best consultants and one of the most loyal and genuine individuals. She was always upbeat and positive and had a huge, giving heart.”

But Teri’s own words capture her sense of purpose better than anyone else could. Teri shared her main motivator in her CSBA job application: “My passion is serving the underserved students. I believe through education all things are possible and you can change an individual’s life generationally. I believe in giving back to my community through the education of our youth.”

That is a tremendous testimony. Teri leaves behind an impressive legacy and a standard as a person and a professional that we would all do well to emulate. We will cherish her memory forever.

Vernon M. Billy Headshot
Vernon M. Billy, CSBA CEO & Executive Director