Valerie Florentino Davis – Trustee Area 3
Trustee Davis was born and raised in Fresno and graduated from Bullard High School in 1977. She received her B.A. and Teaching Credential from California State University, Fresno in 1983. She is married for 39 years to Major Michael F. Davis, retired U.S. Army 36 years, and retired teacher/coach; and has three daughters working in Fresno Unified and grandchildren that attend school in Fresno Unified. Head of Family Support for the United States Army Reserve 729th Transportation Company. In 1995, she was named “Volunteer of the Year” from the United States Pentagon for her service during Desert Storm to the families of the 63rd ARCOM, USAR. Completed the Master’s in governance program through the California School Board Association (CSBA) 2004 – 2006. Completed the study of Urban School District/Reform Issues through the Broad Institute Foundation, June 2005. Completed the Accelerated Board Capacity course at Harvard Business School, July 2019.
She currently serves on Fresno Unified School District Board of Education since December 3, 2004. While in services, she served as Board Clerk for three years and Board President for five and one-half years and currently serving as the Dailey Charter School Board. Trustee Davis is currently Council of the Great City Schools, Executive Committee Member and California School Board Association Delegate, Legislative Committee Member, Annual Conference Planning Committee, and Presenter at Conference.
Prior to her elected seat on the Board of Education, she worked for Fresno Unified beginning at 18 years old. She was a teacher’s aide, Music teacher, Inter-session Kindergarten/First grade teacher, substitute and Summer School English Teacher. She has served as School Site Council President at Ayer Elementary, Tehipite Middle, and Roosevelt High School, as well as PTA/Booster President at Ayer, Kings Canyon, Tehipite, Roosevelt, and Sunnyside High School Marching Band Booster. Beside being apart of the Board of Education with Fresno Unified School District, she is an active member in the community as well; to name a few she has been a board member for the following: Veteran’s Day Parade, East Fresno Kiwanis Club, Central California and Asian Pacific Island Women, Fresno Exchange Club, and Fresno Emblem Club.
She has won the following recognitions and awards:
- US Army Reserve Volunteer of the Year Family Support Pentagon Major General Max Bartz 1995,
- Association of Mexican-American Educators Award in 2009,
- Recognized as the 2011 Republican Woman of Distinction,
- East Fresno Kiwanian of the month, September 2011,
- Fresno Economic Opportunity Commission Foster Grandparents “The Nick Bronzan,
- Spirit of Sharing & Caring” Award 2012,
- Recognized as the Filipino American Women’s Club of Fresno & Vicinity Woman of the Year 2012,
- ELKS National Grand Lodge Citizen of the Year 2020,
- Marjaree Mason Center “Top Ten Women” 2021,
- Recognized Woman of the Year District 5 City Council/ Councilman Luis Chavez 2021,
- Recognized at the Martin Luther King City of Fresno 2022,
- Recipient of the 2022 Walter Zeller Fellowship Award,
- and Appointed to the 2022 Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Leadership.