Assemblymember Das Williams has selected Ventura Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Trudy Arriaga as the 2015 Woman of the Year. Courtesy photo
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Das Williams (D – Carpinteria) has selected Ventura Unified School District Superintendent Trudy Arriaga to represent the 37th Assembly District as the 2015 Woman of the Year.
“It has been a privilege to work with Dr. Arriaga during my time in the Assembly,” Williams stated in the release. “She has been an invaluable resource and advisor to me on educational issues. It is with great honor and appreciation to recognize her exemplary leadership, unwavering dedication to our students, and tremendous commitment to service at the Ventura Unified School District for the past 40 years.”
Since 1974, Dr. Arriaga has worked for Ventura Unified School District and was selected as the first woman to serve as Superintendent for the District in 2001. During her tenure, she has served as a bilingual paraeducator, teacher, and principal.
Dr. Arriaga recently announced that she will retire from Ventura Unified at the end of this school year. She will be continuing her commitment to education in her new role as an instructor at California Lutheran University and will be co-authoring her first book on cultural proficiency.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the Ventura Unified School District as Superintendent,” commented Dr. Arriaga. “I am grateful for the leadership of Assemblymember Williams and his extraordinary advocacy for the children of our State. I am honored to receive the Woman of the Year award on behalf of the remarkable women leaders throughout the State of California.”
Dr. Arriaga was honored as Woman of the Year in a special ceremony held in the State Capitol on Monday, March 9th. The first Woman of the Year ceremony was in 1987 to celebrate Women’s History Month. The event has continued as an annual Assembly tradition to recognize the many contributions of women throughout the state.