The National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) National Hispanic Council of School Board Members (NHC) is pleased to announce Ruben Archuleta of Española Public School District, New Mexico was elected Chair of the National Hispanic Council. Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca of Houston Independent School District, Texas, was elected Chair-elect.

“Latino students make up nearly 27 percent of our country’s public school enrollment and that number continues to grow. We need to do more to ensure our Latino students are supported and can reach their highest potential,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Anna Maria Chávez. “Through his service on the council and in this local district Ruben Archuleta is working to help break down barriers and close opportunity and achievement gaps so that all children can succeed. I congratulate Ruben and I offer my thanks to him and the council leadership for their continued advocacy and student focused work.”

Ruben Archuleta
In addition to his role on the Council, Ruben Archuleta serves as the Vice President of the Española Public Schools Board of Education, and as a Board Member for the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). Archuleta was also recently appointed to the Northern New Mexico College Board of Regents by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Born and raised in Española, New Mexico, Archuleta earned a degree in Radiological Sciences from Northern New Mexico College and is the supervisor of the Radiology Department at Española Hospital where he has been employed for the last 26 years.

"I am excited and honored to lead the National Hispanic Council in its mission to promote quality education for all students with emphasis on the problems and successes of the Hispanic student,” said Archuleta. “It is my hope that through my leadership Hispanic students are provided with the equitable tools and resources they need to be successful." 

Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca serves as First Vice President of the Houston Independent School Board, representing District VI since 2017. The daughter of a Colombian immigrant, her goal is to ensure every student has access to rich, engaging and personalized learning experiences that equip them with the with the skills to succeed in their chosen path. Vilaseca is currently an Account Executive at Johnson Controls, a global leader focused on sustainable, innovative, and integrated solutions to make cities more connected, buildings more intelligent and environments more comfortable and secure.

Regional Directors elected this year to the NHC Board are:

• Central Region Director - Guillermo Z. Lopez, Lansing School Board of Education (MI)
• Western Region Director- Jeremy G. Maestas, Espanola Public Schools (NM)
• Northeast Region Director -Mildred Lefebvre, Holyoke School Committee (MA)

The NHC promotes quality education for all students, with a focus on equity—building access and closing the gap on learning and achievement of Latino students. For more information about NHC or NSBA’s other equity councils, the National Black Council of School Board Members, the National American Indian and Alaska Native Council of School Board Members, and the National Council of Urban Boards of Education, please visit our website: www.nsba.org/services.