Former PTA Council President Melissa Baten Caswell was chosen by her colleagues Tuesday night to be president of the Palo Alto Board of Education for the coming year.
Caswell immediately took the gavel from outgoing Board President Barbara Klausner, who has served since November 2009.
The board chose Camille Townsend as its vice-president.
First elected to the school board in 2007, Caswell is a former corporate marketing vice-president who has been active in the PTA.
She was a founding board member of the nonprofit Youth Community Service and has been a member of several mayoral task forces. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
Townsend, a lawyer, was first elected to the school board in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and holds graduate degrees in law and public policy.
This is wonderful news. I have faith that Melissa Baten Caswell will bring about positive changes.
This is wonderful news. I have faith that Melissa Baten Caswell will bring about positive changes.
This is wonderful news. I have faith that Melissa Baten Caswell will bring about positive changes.
Congratulations, Melissa! I hear a lot of good things about you.
Great choice! Congratulations!
This is hardly news. They all take it in turns and it means nothing.
On the other hand, we still have no reports on what happened during the MI discussion last night.
I feel like Melissa is our best-listening (to all constituents), fairest school board member — so I’m really excited to see her lead the Board. Hooray!
I’ve worked with Melissa, and she is a great choice. Her passion around education, her creativity, and ability to collaborate will serve PA schools well …
Having seen her in action – what a nut job. A good example of the palo alto process at work.
Melissa is intelligent, fair, and hardworking (not too lazy to really dig into the issues).
Can’t say I’m surprised. Here is wishing you all the best. Keep giving the job all that you can, because PAUSD needs your help. Thanks for taking the time to do this “part time” job full time.