Meet Susanna

Susanna was first appointed to the SRVUSD Board of Education in June of 2018 when she was unanimously selected as the candidate to fill a vacated seat. She was then elected unopposed in November 2018 and was the first Asian American to serve on the Board. During the past 4 years of her watch, SRVUSD’s financial health remained strong despite declining enrollment and various challenges, and employee relations have vastly improved. While serving as Board President in 2021, for the first time ever, counselors were hired for all elementary schools, and the first Student Board Member was installed to give more focus to student voice. Valuable learning and support services for students such as the expansion of visual and performing art classes were added. Additionally, wellness centers opened at all high schools, and multiple levels of academic support were provided to all grades. 

Susanna and her family have been residents of San Ramon for over 28 years. Both her children have attended SRVUSD schools and both graduated from Cal High. She has extended family members who are attending schools in the District and will for another decade and more. 

Her passion for helping and supporting kids, teens and young adults to achieve their educational and career goals stems from her life's experiences. As an immigrant to the U.S. from Hong Kong as a child, she saw her parents uprooting their lives in order to have more educational opportunities for their children. Speaking almost no English, her parents worked 7 days a week at a small convenience store, with Susanna and her siblings working when they didn't have school. Education was the way to advance and improve their lives so when she was accepted to Pomona College with scholarships and became the first in her family to go to college, it was more than a milestone, it was a momentous achievement for the whole family. 

After earning both her bachelor's and graduate degrees, Susanna had a successful career in financial marketing and corporate communications before taking a break to raise her two children. It was during this break that Susanna found the field that fulfilled her purpose: Education. She first volunteered in her kids' classrooms as an art docent, creating lesson plans when necessary. When the school needed to hire an instructional assistant, they knew Susanna was the right one to fill that role. During her 10+ years of working in SRVUSD, she worked as an art instructor, a Kindergarten para-educator, and volunteered as a Barton reading tutor. She loved working alongside all the teachers and students in each of the K-5 classrooms, including Special Day Classes, and is still proud of the annual Student Art Show fundraiser she created and coordinated for 7 years to showcase students' masterpieces. Susanna was also a very active parent leader with PTA at all her children's schools and even stepped up to lead committees for the SRV Council of PTAs and 32nd District PTA, including the Reflections Art Program, Parenting Conferences & speaker series, Honorary Service Awards and Student Scholarships. She has also been a contributor in organizing PTA's Advocacy Days.

Susanna decided to earn her certificate for the College Admissions and Career Planning program with UC Berkeley when she saw how today’s college admissions process has become so complicated that many students (and parents) are now burdened with the great stress and anxiety of planning and applying to college, and determining how to fund higher education. She loves working one-on-one with teens and their families, and use her broad knowledge and experience in her different roles to support students from elementary through college.