FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Nurse Selected to Replace Trustee

Huntington Beach resident Catherine Hacker has been selected to replace Fountain Valley School District Board Trustee Michael E. Novak, who will resign Monday because he is moving out of the area.

Hacker’s appointment will officially begin June 11 and last until Dec. 9 to fill the six months remaining on Novak’s term. Hacker said she “probably will” run for a full term thereafter, “but I want to get my feet wet before making my decision.”

A pediatric nurse for the past 13 years, Hacker and her husband moved to Huntington Beach seven years ago. Their three children attend Newland Elementary School.

In addition to her nursing job at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, Hacker also teaches birthing classes at Humana Hospital-Huntington Beach.

Serving as co-president last year and first vice president this year of the district’s Parent-Teacher Assn. led Hacker to seeking the available board seat.

“I’ve always been really involved in my children’s school. I always thought I had to do something to make a difference in my kids’ education,” Hacker said. “I had been slowly getting a wider interest in the district, and I figured I could make an impact on a larger scale this way.”

In addition to the volunteer work she has done in classrooms since 1987, Hacker has also served on the Huntington Union Council and next year will serve on the district’s health and human services committee of the Superintendent-Parent Council.