SANTA ANA : City Schools Product Is District President

The Santa Ana Unified School District board has elected Sal Mendoza as president and sworn in new member Gerardo Mouet, who will serve out the remainder of the term vacated by former member Robert L. Richardson.

Mendoza, 45, said that being elected president of the five-member board was significant to him because he is a product of Santa Ana schools.

“When I was a student, I never really thought about one day serving on the school board or being president,” Mendoza said. “But it feels good, because after being around this area for so many years, I feel that I definitely know this district.”

Mendoza was born in Fresnillo, Mexico, but grew up in Santa Ana. He graduated from Santa Ana High School in 1964 and attended Santa Ana College (now Rancho Santiago College), before earning a degree in business management from the University of Utah.

In addition to choosing Mendoza as president, the board also elected previous president Audrey Yamagata-Noji as vice president and board member Richard C. Hernandez as clerk.