SUSAN L. VALDES

Susan L. Valdes was elected to the School Board (District 1) in 2004, and was re-elected in the August 2008 Primary Election.  Mrs. Valdes was elected School Board Chair at the November 17, 2009 Board reorganization meeting after serving a year as Vice Chair.  She is one of seven members responsible for making policy decisions and overseeing a budget of $3.1 billion for the 8th largest school district in the nation, which is also the county’s largest employer with 25,000 employees. 

Mrs. Valdes presently is director of the National School Boards Association National Hispanic Caucus Southern Region, vice-chair of the Hillsborough County Value Adjustment Board, a member of the Central Florida Coalition of School Boards, the Lowry Park Zoo Executive Committee, and the Council of Urban Boards of Education Steering Committee.  She is also an active member of the Back-to-School Coalition of Hillsborough County.  Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc. presented Mrs. Valdes with the Hispanic Leadership Class of 2008 award.

Prior to her full-time commitment as a Board member, Mrs. Valdes worked with recipients of the Hillsborough County Health Care Program, not only managing the clinic, but also assisting patients with the resources available for social services assistance.  She has been a classroom volunteer and a PTA member who continues to strive for the betterment of education and community culture.

Mrs. Valdes has lived in Hillsborough County since 1975.  She is a graduate of A.P. Leto Comprehensive High School in Tampa.  She is married to Gerardo and all three of her children are graduates of Hillsborough County schools.

June 2011