DOWNEY – Nancy Swenson was elected president of the Downey Unified Board of Education at Tuesday’s school board organizational meeting.

Other officers include Linda Salomon Saldaña as vice president and Jose Rodriguez as clerk.

Outgoing President Giovanna Perez-Saab, a member of the Board since 2018, will continue to serve as a board member representing Trustee Area 3.

There to present Perez-Saab with certificates thanking her for her term as president was Downey Mayor Claudia Frometa and Mayor Pro Tem Mario Trujillo, Ivan Sulic representing Supervisor Janice Hahn and Kayla Terrazas representing Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco.

Unable to be in attendance but was able to provide a certificate of appreciation to be presented on his behalf was Congressman Robert Garcia.

Lastly, Swenson presented outgoing president Perez-Saab with a plaque, on behalf of the entire Board of Education, thanking her for her leadership as president this past year.

“I am grateful to have been able to represent this strong district and all our staff, students, and families this past year. I appreciate the support from the rest of the Board, our Superintendent, our Cabinet, our staff, our teachers and especially our DUSD families,” expressed Perez-Saab. “It is really truly when they say, ‘alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much’ and there’s still just so much more I want to get done with the rest of the school board.”

Serving on the Board for the last 18 years, Swenson is a lifelong resident of Downey and is a graduate of Warren High School. While on the Board, Swenson has been very hands-on as a member of various committees. She has been a member of both the Budget and Audit committees as well a member of the Character Counts Coalition.

She is an active member of the Assistance League of Downey Gypsy Johnson Auxiliary, Gangs Out of Downey, Downey Symphony Guild and Sister Cities Association. Swenson annually visits school sites while classes are in session, participates in Read Across America events at various schools, and coordinates and participates in annual student interviews for the Mary R. Stauffer Foundation scholarships.

Saldaña joined the Downey Unified School Board of Education in November of 2020. Two of her three children are currently a part of Downey Unified, with her eldest graduating from Warren High School last year. Saldaña began her journey volunteering with Downey Unified in 2013 at Price Elementary.

She served as the PTA Reflections Chairs, Room Parent, PTA President, Vice President and Parliamentarian. She has served on the Local Control Accountability Plan Committee (LCAP – District budget oversite) as the school representative and on the English Language Learner Committee (ELAC).

In 2016, Linda founded the Downey Foundation for Educational Opportunities (DFEO) with the help of committed community members and Downey Unified alumni. Saldaña was awarded the City of Downey Servant Heart’s Award in 2019 and has received the PTA Honorary Servant Award twice.

Rodriguez was elected to the Board of Education in 2020. He and his wife have three children who are all a part of Downey Unified, currently attending Downey High School.

During his children’s younger years at Gallatin Elementary School, Rodriguez was involved in Gallatin’s PTA, serving as president during his children’s time there.

He currently works for Turner Construction where he has been a part of notable projects like SoFi Stadium and Long Beach Memorial Miller Children’s Hospital. As a Board member, Rodriguez has served on various committees, including Downey Unified’s Audit Committee.