Meet The Board of Education

Greg Palatto

GREG PALATTO

(Term expires December 2024)

School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101

Email: palatto@bonita.k12.ca.us

Greg lives in La Verne with his wife Joanna, an elementary school teacher. They have two children, Taylor, who attends Ramona Middle School, and Ryan, who attends Bonita High School. The Palattos enjoy camping, travelling, and spending nights at the field watching their children play their various team sports or sing in their school choir performances.

Originally born in New York, Greg came to California while in elementary school. He received his Bachelors Degree from UCLA in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration. He received his Masters Degree in Educational Psychology & Counseling, with a focus in Marriage & Family Therapy, and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology. Greg has served as a school psychologist for over 20 years, currently working in neighboring Charter Oak USD. He also currently serves in leadership positions with the State Council of Education for Student Support Services, with the California Department of Education Social Emotional Learning Task Force, and engages in guest speaking for the University of La Verne Educational Psychology department.

Greg is very active in the community in the local area. He is the President of the San Dimas Masonic Lodge and a founding member of the Satellite Rotary Club of Military Family Support. He enjoys serving on the La Verne Youth & Family Action Committee, as well as with the La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation. He has also enjoyed helping coach his children’s teams and sitting on their various youth sports league boards including La Verne Little League, La Verne Girls Softball Association, and San Dimas/La Verne Pop Warner Football.

Greg’s priorities for Bonita are to keep a positive culture among the district, to champion mental health programs & supports, broaden trades and career pathways for our students, and to keep our children safe in our schools, constantly evaluating best practices for school safety. Greg is very thankful to be able to serve his community and share his experience of educational and mental health leadership with the Bonita USD.

Greg was installed on December 11th, 2020 as a Governing Board Member.

Chris Ann Horsley

CHRIS ANN HORSLEY

(Term expires December 2024)

School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101

Email: c.horsley@bonita.k12.ca.us

Chris Ann Horsley has been elected to serve on the Bonita school board from December 2022 until December 2024. She was elected to serve for the last remaining at-large seat serving all trustee areas in Bonita Unified, and she is excited to represent both the communities of La Verne and San Dimas. Chris Ann is a recently retired educator with a track record of helping students grow and thrive in BUSD schools. She brings strong leadership skills acquired in her 32 years as a teacher, University of La Verne Adjunct Instructor, Bonita High School Dean of Students, Shull Elementary Principal, and BUSD Curriculum Director.

Chris Ann lives in San Dimas with her husband. Within her blended family, her husband and two of their four children benefited from attending Bonita schools. She will seek to ensure ongoing support for excellent programs, strong intervention programs, fiscal responsibility, social and emotional support for children, well-maintained and safe schools, and a school district responsive to the needs of BUSD families and children.

Chris Ann was born and raised on the Central Coast of California and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also has a Master’s of Educational Management from the University of La Verne. She currently serves as the President of the Soroptimists of San Dimas and La Verne which works to increase the opportunities for girls and women to have access to education. In both of her service roles, board member and Soroptimist president, Chris Ann is dedicated to realizing BUSD’s mission to help all students be well-educated, find their purpose, and realize their dreams.

Derek Bahmanou

DEREK BAHMANOU

(Term expires December 2026)
School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101

Email: bahmanou@bonita.k12.ca.us

Derek and his wife, Chaniga, moved to San Dimas in 2011. They have two children, Abigail Marie and William Amnuay, who attend Ekstrand Elementary. The Bahmanous attend One&All Church, a local church with great preaching and inspiring worship music. Derek loves being a parent, a husband, and he considers himself very fortunate to live in such a wonderful community. In 2018, Derek was installed as a Governing Board Member.

Derek’s educational career began at Mt. SAC. In his time at Mt. SAC, Derek played water polo and was on the speech and debate team. Derek received a BA in religion from Vanguard University in 2002, and a MA in Education from National University in 2010. Before becoming a teacher, Derek worked in a variety of jobs, including a mover at Mayflower, Youth Director at WCCC, an AOD supervisor at the Trinity El Monte campus, a general manager at a Subway restaurant, and a substitute teacher. Derek's top priority is seeing Bonita USD provide students with a rigorous and well-rounded education in an encouraging environment. This includes expanding the trade education pathways.

As an 8th-grade science teacher in Baldwin Park, Derek has been involved in various activities on campus such as AVID coordinator, leadership, school site council, teacher and principal hiring committees, and various other committees as assigned. He has also been a nonvoting union representative on a health benefits committee.

In addition to serving on the Bonita USD's Board of Education, Derek is a member of the San Dimas Masonic Lodge and represents Bonita USD on the La Verne-San Dimas Educational Foundation.

He considers himself extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to give back to the communities that have given so much to him and his family.

In his down time, Derek enjoys hiking, watching documentaries, and spending time with family and friends. Derek and his family enjoy travel, Disneyland, Angels baseball, theater, movies, comedy, and dining at many amazing local restaurants.

Jim Elliot

JIM ELLIOT

(Term expires December 2026)

School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101

Email: elliot@bonita.k12.ca.us

Jim remains grateful for the opportunity to serve the students, staff, parents, and communities of Bonita Unified. Jim has lived in the district with his wife Susie since 1988, where both their children graduated from district schools. Jim holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, is a certified correctional healthcare professional, and the Chief Executive Officer for California Correctional Health Care Services. He has thirty-five years of executive healthcare administration experience ranging from non-profit rehab hospitals to teaching practices, community clinics, and correctional healthcare delivery for the incarcerated persons in California state prisons.

First elected to the Bonita Unified board in 2003, he served fourteen years, was president three times, and was proud to champion Measures C and AB bond measures, which funded much-needed modernization and new construction district-wide. In 2021, the Board appointed Jim to fill a vacancy, and he was then re-elected in November of 2022 to the newly created Trustee Area 3. However, Jim remains committed to represent the entire district.

With Jim’s sixteen years of school board governance experience, his guide-star will always be his advocacy for students first and last, coupled with his laser focus on ensuring that the district has the needed resources to maintain its commitment to excellence, an eye towards improving how the district communicates effectively with all stakeholders through transparency and dialogue in an ever changing world, and most importantly, the celebration of our shared successes.

Although Jim’s passion remains Bonita Unified, he served the City of San Dimas as a Commissioner for seven years, was a board member and exhibition chair for the San Dimas Festival of Arts, is a life member of the San Dimas Historical Society, and since 2012, he has served as a board member, and past board chairman, for McKinley Family Services, headquartered in San Dimas. Jim also serves in partnership with the City of La Verne Ad-Hoc Committee where two board members, and two city council members meet to work on shared problems and solutions. And lastly, Jim also serves as liaison and advisory Board member for the La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation, which is dedicated to creating a positive change for all students and staff in Bonita Unified School District.

As his children grew, Jim was a member of PTA, School Site Council, little league coach, softball coach, Boy Scout leader, choir dad, water polo fan, and chaperone. And in the many years Jim worked in nearby Pomona at American Hospital, Western University, and East Valley Community health center, he served on the Pomona Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Juneteenth Committee, was a long-time Rotarian, and he continues to be a longtime member of the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce.

“I take very seriously the oath a Board member makes to the office and believe strongly that public education must always be about what is best for students, and not about political agendas, or ideology. “I look forward to working with Superintendent Wien, the districts leadership, its employee groups, and my fellow board member colleagues as we take on the many challenges that lie ahead.

“Thank you again for your high expectations, dedication and strong support of our district’s school communities as we continue striving to be the best we can be, both today, and in the years ahead.”

Glenn Creiman

GLENN CREIMAN

(Term expires December 2024)

School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101

Email: creiman@bonita.k12.ca.us

It is a great privilege and honor that the communities of La Verne and San Dimas have shown their trust in me to serve as a Governing Board Member for the Bonita Unified School District for 19 years. My family and I have lived in San Dimas since 1987, and both my children are proud graduates of Bonita Unified.

I retired from the Los Angeles Fire Department in 2016 after 35 years serving the communities of downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, and South Central Los Angeles primarily.

My involvement with Bonita Unified began when my son entered kindergarten. Before being elected to the Board of Education, I served as a classroom parent volunteer, school site council member, and school site chairperson. I also became the first male Bonita PTA Council president in BUSD history - a position I held for three terms.

One principle that has guided me from the very beginning, and I still rely on when making every decision, "Is this the best possible choice for our children?" I believe every decision our District makes must be made with this premise in mind and to account for the interests of our other stakeholders, such as employees, parents, and the citizens of our communities.

Bonita Unified is a great district with wonderful students, outstanding staff, and involved parents. Together, we can make it even better.

Contact Us

Please use the following link to send an email to all members of the Board of Education and Superintendent:

Board of Trustees & Superintendent

A Board member may respond, as appropriate, to an electronic communication received from a member of the community and should make clear that his/her response does not necessarily reflect the views of the Board as a whole. Any complaint or request for information should be forwarded to the Superintendent in accordance with Board bylaws and protocols so that the issue may receive proper consideration and be handled through the appropriate district process.

Like other writings concerning district business, a Board member's electronic communication may be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.

Student Board of Education Representatives

Student Board

The Governing Board believes that engaging the student body and seeking its input and feedback regarding the district's educational programs and activities are vital to achieving the district's mission of educating district students.

To enhance communication between the Board and the student body and to encourage student involvement, the Board includes one student Board representative selected by the district's high school students at Board of Education meetings, October through May.

Student representatives serving the 2024-2025 school year:

Brianna Juarez - Bonita High School
Marissa Widen-Hernandez - Chaparral-Vista High School
Madelyn Beck - San Dimas High School

Bonita High School

Chaparral-Vista High School

Marissa Hernandez is a Senior at Chaparral High School and a member of the Renaissance class for the second year. She is also a Freshman at Citrus College as she has already begun working toward an associate degree in Biological Studies.

Marissa has attended Chaparral and Vista high schools since her Sophomore year and is very active on campus. She has participated in making blankets for the House of Ruth, acted in the school play, and is currently competing in the annual Horseshoes tournament. Marissa is also participating in Chaparral’s ProStart Program.

Outside of school, Marissa loves to read and spend time with her family, including her two identical twin sisters who graduated from Chaparral in 2023.

Marissa plans to graduate from Citrus College and transfer to Cal State Long Beach and major in Marine Biology.