Board President Tharwa Ahmad took the stage alongside fellow trustees Jason Chong, Jerry Frutos, Rhodia Shead and Brenda Estrada and Superintendent Julienne Lee to accept the award.
“This award is a reflection of not just the work we do, but the spirit in which we do it: together, united in our commitment to the students, families and communities we serve,” Ahmad said. “In an ever-evolving educational landscape, our team has remained grounded in our shared purpose, ensuring that every decision we make ignites the passion for learning and promotes achievement for all students. We are a group that came together for the right reasons — to lead with integrity, openness and a collective vision. Our ability to navigate challenges, honor diverse perspectives and keep our focus on student success has been the foundation for our work.”
In addition to the team’s commitment to professional development and advocacy, members have cultivated strong community ties by dividing and conquering to ensure they are active participants at all district and school events, ranging from reclassification ceremonies to sports matches, science camps and spelling bees. They all draw on their personal strengths and expertise to further the collective and best serve students — emphasizing high-quality teaching and learning.
“This recognition affirms what we have known all along, effective governance is not just about making decisions, but doing so with trust, respect and unity. It is about creating a space where every voice is heard, and every educational partner has a role in shaping the future,” Ahmad said. “I am incredibly proud to be part of a team that embodies these values in all that we do.”
In the last year, the governance team has made advancements on many of its priorities by improving access to learning opportunities through the introduction of two independent study options, elevating student voice and agency through an ambassador program for at-promise students, expanding efforts to engage parents and securing grants to support early education programming and healthy learning conditions.
Buena Park ESD’s team demonstrates CBSA’s four policy pillars: strengthen local governance, secure fair funding, improve conditions of children and ensure achievement for all.
“Thank you to the California School Boards Association for this honor and for recognizing the power of cohesive, principled leadership. Together we will continue to champion the best interests of our students, support our educators and engage our community with passion and purpose,” Ahmad concluded.
The honor is part of CSBA’s Golden Awards program and includes induction into the Golden Gavel Hall of Fame. Previous awardees include Encinitas Union School District (2022) and Visalia Unified School District (2023). Governance teams were judged on their ability to focus on learning and achievement for all students, communicate a common vision, govern effectively, apply an equity lens to guide decision-making, and commit to ongoing training to be an informed and effective team.