Meet The Board of Education
Glenn Creiman
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Glenn Creimantitle
Glenn Creiman, President
(Term expires December 2024)
(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.
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.
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.
Greg Palatto
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Greg Palattotitle
Greg Palatto, Vice President
(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, a 3rd grade teacher. They have two children, Ryan, who attends Ramona Middle School, and Taylor, who attends Grace Miller Elementary. The Palattos enjoy camping, running & obstacle course races, travelling, and spending nights at the baseball field watching their kids little league teams or rooting on their Dodgers.
Originally born in New York, Greg came to California while in 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 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, and with the California Department of Education Social Emotional Learning Task Force.
Greg is very active in the community in the local area. He is an officer of the San Dimas Masonic Lodge and a member of the La Verne Rotary Club. He also enjoys helping coach his children’s teams with La Verne Little League and La Verne Girls Softball Association, working behind the scenes to support the Grace Miller Harvest Fest, and guest speaking at the University of La Verne School Psychology graduate program.
Greg’s priorities for Bonita are to keep a positive culture among the district, to champion mental health programs & supports, and to broaden trades and career pathways for our students. Long term positive outcomes for all students are a passion for which Greg advocates.
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
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Chris Ann Horsleytitle
Chris Ann Horsley, Clerk
(Term expires December 2024)
(Term expires December 2024)
School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101
Email: c.horsley@bonita.k12.ca.us
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.
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.
Derek Bahmanou
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Derek Bahmanoutitle
Derek Bahmanou, Member
(Term expires December 2026)
School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101
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
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Jim Elliottitle
Jim Elliot, Member
(Term expires December 2026)
School Board Office: (909) 971-8200 Ext. 5101
Email: elliot@bonita.k12.ca.us
Jim is grateful for the opportunity to serve the students, staff, and communities of Bonita Unified. He has lived in the District with his wife Susie since 1988, and both their children attended and graduated from District schools. Jim holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, is a certified correctional healthcare professional, and the CEO of 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 inmates inside California state prisons.
First elected to the Board in 2003, he served fourteen years, was president three times, and was proud to champion Measures C and AB, which funded much-needed modernization and new construction district-wide. In 2021, the Board appointed Jim to fill a vacancy, and he was re-elected in 2022 in the newly created Trustee Area 5.
With Jim’s fifteen years of experience, his guide-star will always be his advocacy for students, 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 with all stakeholders in a changing world, and most importantly, celebrating our shared success.
Although Jim’s passion is Bonita Unified, he served the City of San Dimas as a Commissioner for seven years, was a Board member for the San Dimas Festival of Arts, is a life member of the San Dimas Historical Society, and he currently serves as a Board member for McKinley Family Services headquartered in San Dimas.
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. In the many years Jim worked in Pomona, he served on the Pomona Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Juneteenth Committee, and was a long-time Rotarian.
“I take seriously the oath a Board member makes to the office and believe strongly that public education must always be about what is best for our children, not about individual political agendas or ideology. I look forward to working with the Superintendent and my fellow Board member colleagues as the team of six as we take on the challenges that lie ahead.”
Jim also serves as liaison and advisory Board member, to 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.
Jim is thankful for the dedication and support of our communities.
Student Board of Education Representatives
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Student Board of Education Representativestitle
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 2022-2023 school year:
Student representatives serving the 2022-2023 school year:
- Grishm Sethi - Bonita High School
- Natalie Bolanos - Chaparral High School
- Jaiden Miranda - San Dimas High School
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| Grishm Sethi | Natalie Bolanos | Jaiden Miranda |
Contact Us
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Contact Ustitle
Please use the following link to send an email to all members of the Board of Education and 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.
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