Chico Unified School District

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Board Members

Board President
Elected: 2018, 2022
Term of Office Expires: 2026

Trustee Area 4
E-mail Tom

I was raised in Chico, and educated in Chico Unified schools, and am grateful for - and proud of - the education I received here. I graduated from Chico State with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and then returned to CSUC for my multiple subject credential, and again for a single-subject credential in Social Studies. My wife and I live with our two children in Chico.

Education is my passion. I have been employed as a special education aide, technology teacher, history teacher, and education coordinator. I am a fervent believer in the mission of public education to create citizens who are not only educated and work-ready, but have a firm sense of their place in the world, and their ability to create positive change. I am excited to work with the board, district staff, students, and the community at large to further that mission.

Rebecca Konkin

Board Vice President
Elected: 2022
Term of Office Expires: 2026

Trustee Area 1
E-mail Rebecca

Gayle Olsen

Gayle Olsen

Board Member-Elect
Elected: 2024
Term of Office Expires: 2028

Trustee Area 2
E-mail Gayle

I was born in Lancaster, California and grew up in the Mojave Desert. Both of my parents were teachers, as was my older sister. While in high school, I was a student aide in special education classes. I also was fortunate to take sign language for 2 years in high school and helped to support the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in their mainstream classes. I will say teaching was my calling and I never considered any other career.

I attended San Jose State University on volleyball and basketball scholarships where I earned both my liberal studies and communication handicapped credentials (emphasis in deaf and hard of hearing). My first teaching position of 9 years was at R.J. Fisher Middle school in Los Gatos.

I moved to Chico in 1998 and taught special education at Rosedale for 5 years, then moved to Pleasant Valley High for 20 years. While at Pleasant Valley High, I also coached girls volleyball and cross country. I have 28 year old amazing twins and a wonderful wife. I enjoy exercising, hiking, camping, and hanging out in our backyard. I retired in June, 2024 after 34 years of teaching special education. In special education, communication and teamwork with parents, support staff, administration, and additional service providers is critical. I look forward to regular communication with all constituents. I believe it is critical to listen to all perspectives on a topic before making the best decision for students. I loved supporting students and I look forward to continuing to be a voice for students.

Eileen Robinson

Board Member
Elected: 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
Term of Office Expires: 2026

Trustee Area 5
E-mail Eileen

I am native to the Chico area, having grown up on a small dairy to the west of Hamilton City. Small country schools gave me a great education, for which I am grateful. My four daughters all graduated from Chico schools.

I first became involved with Chico Unified as my children entered kindergarten. It must have been a calling because once I became a volunteer, I never left the district. I found a role as an employee and also continued to work on district planning committees and other projects. I attended many board meeting throughout my thirty-five years as a volunteer and employee,Upon my retirement in 2002, I felt a sense of disconnection, of not being as much a participant as I had once been, so I decided it was time to reconnect and run for the Board of Education.

The district has gone through its trials and tribulations in recent years, but it has survived. I am looking forward to serving the district in my new role and will commit my time, energy and experience to saving those programs that are strong and working to provide a variety of educational options to all students. I will also explore ways to add new programs and restore others that have been cut because of fiscal constraints and declining enrollment.

I look forward to communicating regularly with parents and community members who are interested in supporting our great public school system. I am committed to establishing an atmosphere of openness and teamwork with all the district's employees and an all-encompassing attitude that welcomes everyone to the world of support for our youth by providing the very best educational opportunities available.

Teisha Hase

Board Member-Elect
Elected: 2024
Term of Office Expires: 2028

Trustee Area 3
E-mail Teisha

Before living in my current home for 29 years, I had never lived anywhere longer than 5 years in my whole life. While I am a native Californian, like my mom, I was raised in Tennessee (like my dad) and Kentucky until 7th grade, when we moved to Medford, OR.

I attended Portland State University after high school, but dropped out. I met my future husband while working in Portland, and we decided to become teachers. He was raised in Colusa and Willows, so we came back to Butte County in ‘86 to attend Butte College and CSUC, where I earned a BA in History, with a minor in American Studies, with “Honors in the Major,” and Magna Cum Laude distinction. We then began the credential program.

Halfway through our student teaching program, we were tired of being poor college students, so we took off to teach English overseas in Seoul, Korea to make some money. It was a transformative experience. We lived in an area of Seoul where there were few Westerners, and children would literally stare, turning all the way around as they walked past us holding their mother’s hand. For the first time, we understood what being perceived as “other” was truly like. It was a different world. At 5’6”, both my husband and I were taller than average! Our students had never seen someone with natural brown hair or green eyes like my husband’s.

Teaching was THE most revered profession in Korea. Parents explained (reasonably, really) that there would be no doctors, engineers, scientists, editors, lawyers, musicians etc. without teachers. There is a National Teachers Day in Korea where students shower their teachers with gifts. It was eye opening.

We returned to Chico and finished our student teaching, where along with history, I earned supplements to teach literature and English. I am entering my 27th year as a classroom teacher, primarily teaching English and reading. I am signed up as aReading Pal at Citrus Elementary, where both my children attended, and I am excited to begin!.

I have extensive experience working with students with developmental delays, and even took guardianship of a former student with intellectual disability. I was a foster parent for 6 years, and

I am a mental health advocate. I volunteered with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Butte County for years. “Stop stigma. Promote potential.” is more than just a platform to me. It is a mission. Mental health is integral to student and staff success and safety.

With my husband of 36 years, I have two children, both graduates of CUSD schools (Citrus Elementary, Chico Junior and Chico High ). Our oldest grandchild enrolled in Rosedale Elementary's Spanish immersion program in August '24.

We love to travel as a family, and I have been blessed to travel with my parents, my children, and now grandchildren. I am the youngest of five children. I love reading, thrifting, remodeling fixer uppers, and creating stained glass pieces.