Meet The Board of Education

The IUSD Governing Board members are elected by citizens of their respective trustee areas, however, the Governing Board operates as a unified Board, representing and supporting the interest of all Irvine communities, residents, students and staff. 

Cyril Yu

Image
Cyril Yu

Cyril Yu was elected to the Board in November 2020, and is currently serving his first term. Cyril was selected to serve as Board President for 2024.  Prior to joining the Board, Cyril was appointed in 2014 to the IUSD Finance Committee, which helped to assess and advocate for IUSD’s Measure E Improvement Bond.

Cyril Yu attended UC Berkeley, majoring in political science, and then obtained his law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law. Cyril worked in private practice for four years before joining the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in 2002. Cyril is currently a Senior Deputy District Attorney.

Board Member Yu can be reached at 626-260-0603 or via email at cyrilyu@iusd.org.

Click Here to invite Cyril Yu to your event!

Current term expires December 2024. Trustee Area 3

Each Board Member is assigned as Board Representative to various committees/organizations and serves as School Liaison to a group of schools (determined on a continuing yearly rotation basis); however, the Board operates as a unified Board, representing and supporting the interest of all Irvine communities, residents, students and staff.

Board Representative to: School Liaison to:  
  • Irvine Child Care Project
  • Emergency Preparedness Interagency Collab
  • City/District Liaison Committee
  • CA Assoc. of Suburban School Districts
  • PTA Council (shared)
  • Irvine Public Schools Foundation (shared)
  • College Park
  • Deerfield
  • Greentree
  • Irvine HS
  • IUSD Virtual Academy Elem
  • Lakeside MS
  • Plaza Vista
  • Stone Creek
  • Venado MS

 

Paul Bokota

Image
Paul Bokota

Paul Bokota was re-elected to the Board in November 2020, and is currently serving his third term.  Paul was selected to serve as Board Clerk for 2024. Prior to joining the Board he was an active member of the Finance Committee for six years, including serving as the chairperson of the Board appointed Revenue Enhancement Committee.

Paul has been a lawyer for over 20 years and is currently in-house corporate counsel for the Hydrafacial Company.  He has been an active member of the PTA, including serving as past president of Brywood PTA, and is a Legacy Partner of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

Board Member Bokota can be reached at 949-235-8405 or via email at paulbokota@iusd.org

Click Here to invite Paul Bokota to your event!

Current term expires December 2024.  Trustee Area 5

Each Board Member is assigned as Board Representative to various committees/organizations and serves as School Liaison to a group of schools (determined on a continuing yearly rotation basis); however, the Board operates as a unified Board, representing and supporting the interest of all Irvine communities, residents, students and staff.

Board Representative to: School Liaison to:  
  • City/District Liaison Committee
  • CA Assoc. of Suburban School Districts
  • Medical Advisory Board
  • PTA Council (shared)
  • Irvine Public Schools Foundation (shared)
  • Brywood
  • Canyon View
  • Eastwood
  • Northwood
  • Northwood HS
  • Santiago Hills
  • Sierra Vista MS
  • Stonegate
  • Woodbury

Lauren brooks

Image
Lauren Brooks

Lauren Brooks was re-elected to the Board in November 2020, and is currently serving her third term.   In 2019, Lauren was awarded the prestigious Marian Bergeson Award, the highest honor granted by the Orange County School Boards Association, awarded to trustees who promote and enhance public education through their governing board service and community efforts. Prior to joining the Board she was instrumental in initiating and facilitating the annual student trip to Sacramento, where students meet with legislators to present their views on education issues.

Lauren began her education career as a science instructor and has served the district in a number of volunteer roles including Irvine Public Schools Foundation board member, PTA Council board member, PTA President and Irvine Children's Fund board member.

Board Member Brooks can be reached at 714-292-2033 or via email at laurenbrooks@iusd.org

Click Here to invite Lauren Brooks to your event!

Current term expires December 2024.  Trustee Area 1

Each Board Member is assigned as Board Representative to various committees/organizations and serves as School Liaison to a group of schools (determined on a continuing yearly rotation basis); however, the Board operates as a unified Board, representing and supporting the interest of all Irvine communities, residents, students and staff.

Board Representative to: School Liaison to:  
  • Coastline ROP Board
  • Coalition for Legislative Action
  • Special Education Community Advisory Comm.
  • PTA Council (shared)
  • Irvine Public School Foundation (shared)
  • Beacon Park
  • Cadence Park
  • Cypress Village
  • Early Childhood Lrn. Cnt.
  • Jeffrey Trail MS
  • Loma Ridge
  • Portola HS
  • Portola Springs
  • Solis Park

Jeff Kim

Image
Jeff Kim

Dr. Jeff Kim, EdD joined the Board in November 2022, and is currently serving his first term. 

Dr. Kim has been working in education for over 20 years serving in many roles including middle and high school teacher, administrator, instructional coach, and civic leader. He is also an adjunct instructor at Cal State University Fullerton and Vanguard University where he is preparing the next generation of teachers and educational leaders.

Prior to joining the Board, Dr. Kim helped lead the Summer Korea Institute, a three-day professional learning through the Program to Advance Cultural Education (PACE), a collaborative program sponsored by IPSF, the Irvine Korean Parents Association, and Cal State Fullerton for over 10 years. 

Dr. Kim earned his Educational Doctorate at the University of Southern California and is a National Board-Certified Teacher. He was awarded the Roy Erickson Civic Education Leadership Award by the California Council for Social Studies in 2022. 

He has been married to his wife Dr. Stephanie Kim for the past 21 years and together they have five children who all attend IUSD. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, biking, spending time with family, and volunteering at Saddleback Church.

Board Member Kim can be reached at 714-458-7947 or via email at jeffkim@iusd.org.

Click Here to invite Jeff Kim to your event!

Current term expires December 2026. Trustee Area 4

Each Board Member is assigned as Board Representative to various committees/organizations and serves as School Liaison to a group of schools (determined on a continuing yearly rotation basis); however, the Board operates as a unified Board, representing and supporting the interest of all Irvine communities, residents, students and staff.

Board Representative to: School Liaison to:  
  • Advanced Learning & Differentiation Community Advisory Committee
  • Irvine Chamber (Gov. Affairs Committee)
  • PTA Council (shared)
  • Irvine Public Schools Foundation (shared)
  • Alderwood
  • Bonita Canyon
  • Oak Creek
  • Rancho San Joaquin MS
  • Turtle Rock
  • University HS
  • University Park
  • Vista Verde

Katie McEwen

Image
Katie McEwen

Katie McEwen was elected to the Board in November 2022, and is currently serving her first term.  

Katie previously served as an English teacher at Northwood High School and substitute teacher throughout IUSD.  Since 2008, Katie has volunteered at Meadow Park Elementary School, South Lake Middle School, and Woodbridge High School, where each of her three children attended.  Among her many volunteer roles at IUSD schools, Katie served for three years as the chairperson of the Woodbridge High School Career Café program, which focused on non-traditional career pathways and brought in a wide variety of speakers to discuss their professional experiences with students. For this work, the PTSA awarded Katie with an Honorary Service Award. 

Katie graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Sociology and played on the Stanford Women’s Soccer Team.  Following graduation, Katie taught English in Sumatra, Indonesia through Volunteers in Asia.  Katie later worked in human resources and international relocation at Fluor Daniel and as a corporate trainer at Ingram Micro before starting her teaching career. Katie currently serves as a bedside reader for acutely sick children through a program called Ethan and Choco's Book Club (ECBC) at CHOC Hospital. 

Board Member McEwen can be reached at 714-402-7880 or via email at katiemcewen@iusd.org.

Click Here to invite Katie McEwen to your event!

Current term expires December 2026.  Trustee Area 2

Each Board Member is assigned as Board Representative to various committees/organizations and serves as School Liaison to a group of schools (determined on a continuing yearly rotation basis); however, the Board operates as a unified Board, representing and supporting the interest of all Irvine communities, residents, students and staff.

Board Representative to: School Liaison to:  
  • Nominating Committee of the County
  • Coalition for Legislative Action
  • PTA Council (main rep)
  • Irvine Public Schools Foundation (shared)
  • Creekside HS / IVA Secondary
  • Culverdale
  • Eastshore
  • Irvine Adult Transition Prog
  • Meadow Park
  • South Lake MS
  • Springbrook
  • Westpark
  • Woodbridge HS