San Mateo County Board of Education Trustee Joe Ross has announced he will resign from the Board effective March 16, 2023. Mr. Ross represents Trustee Area 7, which includes Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Woodside, and parts of Redwood City, since 2012. He was re-elected twice, most recently in 2020. His current term is scheduled to end in December 2024.

Mr. Ross announced he is leaving the Board in order to focus more time on his work with Reach University where he serves as President. 

During his tenure on the Board, Mr. Ross was a strong advocate for computer science education and an active member of the Board’s legislative subcommittee. He worked hard to return excess property tax to the county to serve education and became a leader in the state on this issue. He served as Board President in 2017. Mr. Ross served as the President of the California County Boards of Education in 2022, where he was recognized for his strong leadership and initiatives.

Prior to his work with Reach University, Mr. Ross served as general counsel and operating executive at several early-stage technology companies, Deputy District Attorney in San Mateo County, and as an Officer on active duty in the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Ross shared, “It has been my honor to serve San Mateo County on the Board of Education for more than a decade. We are fortunate in this county to have so many dedicated school board members, superintendents, and school leaders who do what they do not for politics, but for kids. The group of new and recently elected leaders in our county gives me hope. Year after year, citizens stand up, run for office or stand for appointment, committing themselves to serve our students and communities. That’s a good thing for our local democracy and our schools.”

Board President Beverly Gerard added, “It was an honor to work with Trustee Ross on both the Board of Education and the California County Boards of Education. He has been an extraordinary education leader who contributed an incredible amount of knowledge, enthusiasm, and overall caring throughout his years of service. We will miss him.”

The San Mateo County Board of Education will decide at its February 1st meeting whether to call for a special election or make a provisional appointment. Information on the plan for filling the position will be posted on the San Mateo County Office of Education website.