County Board of Education Elects New President, VP

Trustees Janevette Cole (right) and Cheryl Cook-Kallio (left) were elected as the Alameda County Board of Education as President and Vice President on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. 

Trustee Ken Berrick was honored for his 15 years of service to the Alameda County Board of Education on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. 

HAYWARD, CA - The Alameda County Board of Education voted to appoint Trustee Janevette Cole as the Board President and Trustee Cheryl Cook-Kallio as the Vice President of the Board for the 2023-2024 academic year at its regular July 11, 2023 meeting. 

President Cole most recently served as the Board’s Vice President and was first elected to the Board in 2020. Cole represents Area 5, which includes Hayward, Union City and a northwestern portion of Fremont. A cofounder of Farmers to Pioneers, a pipeline to college program for Hayward High School students, Cole also sits on the Executive Board of Directors for the Eden Youth and Family Center. 

“I’m really grateful for the honor of serving with you all and working with staff,” said Cole during Tuesday night's meeting. “Thank you for honoring me.” 

Vice President Cook-Kallio has served on the Board since 2022 and represents Area 7, which includes Dublin, Pleasanton, Sunol, Livermore and the eastern portion of Hayward. 

Outgoing Board President Joaquin A. Rivera was honored for his leadership. Alameda County Office of Education's (ACOE) Senior Chief of Schools Monica Vaughan highlighted qualities in Rivera's leadership: passion, knowledge and expertise, and respectfulness. 

“You hold the well being of Alameda County students at the center of decision making,” said Vaughan. “You have demonstrated commitment to board and state policies that support strong education outcomes for students in ACOE operated schools.” 

Trustee Ken Berrick was also honored Tuesday for his 15 years of service on the Alameda County Board of Education. He was first elected in 2008 and has previously served as Board President and is currently the Chair of the Board Program and Agency Budget Committee. Vaughan applauded Berrick for his commitment to serving students and their families. 

“In particular, Trustee Berrick has always been a champion for our most vulnerable young people – children in foster care, youth in need of mental health support, and students in our alternative school settings,” said Vaughan. 

For more information about the Alameda County Board of Education, visit acoe.org/board