About the Conference and Luncheon
Register to attend the Suburban School Districts Luncheon, featuring guest speakers, Assembly Member Dr. Darshana Patel, and Sophie Fanelli, President of the Stuart Foundation. The Luncheon takes place at the 2025 CSBA Annual Education Conference and Trade Show on Thursday, December 4th, from 12:15pm-1:30pm in Sacramento.
“The luncheon provides time for connecting in person with peers from across the state, sharing experiences from the year and identifying common priorities, challenges and opportunities to collaborate.”
Tickets must be purchased in advance! Register now and get your tickets here.
About the Speakers
Dr. Darshana R. Patel was elected in November 2024 to represent the 76th Assembly District in northern San Diego County. The district spans diverse communities, including the cities of Escondido, San Marcos, and San Diego, as well as the unincorporated areas of Del Dios, Elfin Forest, Fairbanks Ranch, Harmony Grove, Lake San Marcos, and Rancho Santa Fe.
A research scientist, school board president, and dedicated community leader, Dr. Patel brings a unique blend of expertise and compassion to public service. As the daughter of immigrants, she experienced firsthand the challenges of building a new life in California. Her journey was marked by tragedy at an early age when she lost her mother at 14—a loss that inspired her pursuit of medical and health research. After earning a B.A. in Biochemistry from Occidental College and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of California, Irvine, she launched a successful career in biotechnology research before transitioning to community leadership.
In 2016, as the Poway Unified School District grappled with financial mismanagement and criminal embezzlement, Dr. Patel ran for the school board to help restore trust and effective governance. Elected as a Trustee, she focused on stabilizing the district’s finances, rebuilding governance structures, and navigating the educational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her efforts earned her widespread community support, leading to her reelection in 2020 and her role as School Board President.
Beyond her local district, Dr. Patel has been a tireless advocate for educational equity and community engagement. She serves as President of the San Diego County School Boards Association and on the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, where she champions policies to promote inclusion and opportunity. She has also contributed to public safety as a member of the San Diego Police Department Northeastern Division Captain’s Advisory Board and has held leadership roles on the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board and Town Council.
Dr. Patel lives in San Diego with her husband and their three daughters.
Sophie Fanelli leads the Stuart Foundation and stepped into her role in 2019 after serving as its Chief of Programs. As President she sets the vision and supports strategies to achieve the Foundation’s aspiration for education systems that improve life outcomes for young people. She was drawn to the Foundation for its clear commitment to changing the odds for those students who have been furthest from opportunity and its conviction that systems can change to better serve these students. She is both leader and steward of a long Stuart tradition of listening and learning in pursuit of change.