Area of Expertise:
Business Administration/Management
Municipal Governance
Records Management
Election Administration
Degrees/Certifications:
AA- Business Administration
San Bernardino Valley Community College
CMC- Certified Municipal Clerk
International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC)
CPMC- Certified Professional Municipal Clerk
UC Riverside Extension
RIM- Records Information Management Certificates
International Association of Records Management Administrators (ARMA)
Notary Public Commission – California
Volunteer Experience:
Mentor – CCAC (City Clerks Association of California)
Ministry – Grace Alive Church
Singer – Community Events (National Anthem, Patriotic, Worship)
Police Explorer – Post 303 SBPD- Community Service
Balloon Animal Artist – Community Events
Bio:
Stephanie began her career at the San Bernardino Police Department first volunteering as a Police Explorer, and then was hired on as a full time Police Cadet. During Stephanie’s tenure with the SBPD, Stephanie was trained and assigned to work in a variety of different police support roles such as: police dispatch, property and evidence, front desk customer service, police report writing, detective bureau, and the police chief’s executive office. Although Stephanie had an undeniable passion for law enforcement, her career took an unexpected turn due to the financial instability of the City at the time.
Stephanie left the SBPD and then took on a new role working as the General Manager of a brand new business that was still being built and had yet to be established. Stephanie was given the unique responsibility of being able to hire and train the first Menchies Frozen Yogurt team in Fontana, CA. Stephanie’s hard work and dedication, as well as her creative marketing strategies and community outreach programs allowed her to lead the business into its 3rd successful year of being a profitable and beloved part of the community.
Knowing the business was running efficiently and had been established, Stephanie decided that it was time to step away from the business world in order to focus on her new growing family. Stephanie ended up taking on a part time role as an After School Teacher for the City of Fontana, and was assigned to work at Kathy Binks Elementary School. This is where Stephanie first discovered her passion for education and love for students. This position allowed Stephanie to experience, first hand, some of the unique challenges that face teachers today and this position also gave her the opportunity to make genuine connections with educational professionals who shared her passion for empowering students and parents for success.
Although Stephanie believed in what she was doing and loved every part of it, she had to begin searching for a new position to help relieve the financial burden that was weighing on her family. Stephanie accepted a position working as an Administrative Assistant to the City Clerk’s Office for the City of Colton. This began Stephanie’s career in municipal government.
As the Administrative Assistant for the City Clerk’s Office, Stephanie was trained and mentored by the City’s Deputy City Clerk, and after three and a half years, Stephanie was able to promote to become the City’s new Deputy City Clerk, and then just one year and a half later, became the Acting City Clerk. Stephanie is considered the elections official, custodian of records, and the filing officer/ compliance officer for the City of Colton. Stephanie’s responsibilities include a variety of duties such as: agenda management, city council meeting facilitation and support, issuing legal public notices, policy review, citywide records management, election administration, and ensuring the city remains in compliance with legislation that ensures transparency, accountability, and ethics.
Simultaneously, as Stephanie was journeying through her career at the City of Colton, she and her husband Jorge were also growing their family. Stephanie and Jorge are the proud parents of three precious little boys named Hezekiah, Josiah, and David.
Stephanie was first introduced to Springs Charter when her oldest son was getting ready to being his first year of kindergarten. Stephanie realized that she would need to begin making important decisions on where her children should start their education journeys. Due to several concerns that Stephanie and her husband had regarding the traditional public school system, Stephanie proceeded to research other alternatives, and was first introduced to Springs Charter.
Springs Charter’s values and vision as well as the resources and support they offered parents and students made making this decision extremely easy. Stephanie and Jorge decided to start their journey with Springs Charter in the Homeschool Program and after two successful years decided to continue on with Spring Charter in the Discovery Program. Stephanie and her family fell in love with Springs Charter very quickly, which is why Stephanie also decided to apply to become part of the board for Empire Springs.
Stephanie’s primary goal in serving as a board member is to ensure that Springs Charter’s values and vision are upheld and that they are able to continue empowering students and parents towards success.
