Santa Rita Union School District

Mr. Sandoval was born and raised in Salinas. He is proud to have attended both elementary school and middle school within the Santa Rita Union School District, first attending Santa Rita Elementary School as a second grade student and finishing his 8th grade year at Gavilan View Middle School. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Chicano(a) Studies in 2004 after which he returned to Salinas to make a difference in his community. He currently is a mortgage broker and has owned his own mortgage brokerage company since 2011. He is a member of LULAC Council 2055 which works on education and civil rights issues. He was first elected to the Santa Rita Union School District Board of Trustees in 2018 and currently serves as Board President. He enjoys traveling and being outdoors and making a difference in his community.

Ms. Lopez is a proud kindergarten- 8th grade alumnus of the Santa Rita Union School District. She graduated from Everret Alvarez High High School in 2006 and then graduated from Hartnell College in 2016 with an Associate of Arts in Administration of Justice. Ms. Lopez then graduated from CSUMB in 2018 where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Communication. She also holds a California state license as a Registered Dental Assistant and has over 18 years of experience in the dental field, both in office and hospital settings. Ms. Lopez is a married mother of two. Her oldest just got promoted from 8th grade in the district. And her youngest will start school in the next few years. In her free-time, Ms. Lopez enjoys spending time with her family outdoors. Her family loves sightseeing local historical homes and buildings and along the peninsula is a favorite for my family and I. Ms. Lopez was elected to serve her community as a Board Trustee in 2021.

Ms. Turner grew up in Monterey County. She served as a member of Jesuit Volunteer Corps after college graduation and as a former intern for the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C. Her step-mother, siblings, and nephews live in Salinas. Ms. Turner is a Volunteer with Madonna del Sasso Church, a Member of Monterey County School Boards Association, Monterey County Education Coalition, and Member of California Federation of Teachers. She has been a recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Award from Congressman Sam Farr and honored by North Monterey County Unified School District for Outstanding Service to Children with Special Needs Ms. Turner was first elected to the Board of the Santa Rita Union School District in 2015. Her current term ends in 2028 and she is currently serving as Board of Trustees Vice President. Ms. Turner has an undergraduate degree in American Studies from Stanford University, a Multiple Subject with CLAD Teaching Credential from Chapman University, and an Administrative Services Credential from Brandman University.

Mrs. Arellano takes great pride in supporting the growth and transformation of local schools. She has had the privilege of participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies for McKinnon, New Republic, and John Gutierrez Schools, as well as witnessing the rebuilding of Santa Rita Elementary—milestones that reflect the community’s strong commitment to educational excellence. Elva is committed to ensuring every child receives an exceptional, equitable education grounded in a strong curriculum and core principles. As a member of the Curriculum Council, she actively supports high-quality instruction and data-driven decision-making. Outside of her board service, Elva is a passionate ceramist who finds balance and inspiration through the meditative art of working with clay.

Mr. Patel has been an educator for over 20 years at Alisal High School in Salinas, California. He is the proud father of two and has been married for over 20 years. He has been instrumental in creating and teaching a foundational curriculum for all 9 grade students called AVID/ College and Career Readiness. This curriculum and other support programs has led to Alisal High School becoming the Number 1 ranked high school in Salinas in the terms of Academics, Graduation Rates and University Acceptance Rates. Mr. Patel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Real Estate and Master’s Degree in Business Administration, along with Teaching Credentials and Golf Coach Certification. Mr. Patel is also the current longest serving High School Golf Coach in Monterey County. For over 20 years, he has introduced the game of golf to underrepresented students from East Salinas. Thanks to the dedication of the student athletes, the school has earned 2 League Championships and are looking forward to their 3rd championship. Mr. Patel has also served as leader in various school and government entities. He served as School Site Council President for Alisal High School and for Rancho San Juan High School. He was President of New Republic School PTA. In terms of City of Salinas, he also served as Vice-Chairman of Salinas Community Police Committee as well as a member of Measure G Tax Oversight Committee. Prior to his current career as an educator, Mr. Patel was a successful real estate developer and owner. He co-developed a Holiday Inn and a Days Inn in Salinas. He also worked at Lincoln Property Company and First Interstate Bank Corporation(now Wells Fargo Bank) as a Senior Financial Analyst.