Education in San Mateo County

My name is Chelsea Bonini. Beginning in 1994, I became involved in education in San Mateo County. First, as a teacher in South San Francisco at Skyline Elementary School, and then as a parent and also a School Board Trustee in the San Mateo-Foster City School District. I currently serve on the Personnel Commission for the San Mateo County Office of Education, as well as on the Commission on Disabilities for the County of San Mateo.

These experiences frame my knowledge of the systems, governance and the work of educating students in San Mateo County.

Why am I sharing this?

I am passionate about education and ensuring that kids have what they need to succeed and that they are respected in their endeavors. And as a former teacher, I am also very protective and respectful of teachers in the important and difficult work that they do.

I am building this site and starting this blog because I have realized a need for a "primer" of sorts - a quick reference - about how education is structured in our County, who the decision makers are, what they are responsible for, how Districts and the County Office of Education provide education, how funding in Districts varies and why, how special education works, what changes at the state level mean for us locally, how our local landscape of communities (cities and school districts) is unique, how entities engage and interact to help ensure that our most valuable community resource, our schools, effectively prepare our kids to become leaders, professionals, business owners, service providers and active community members.

I will attempt to share this information in a useful way here. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, additional perspectives and facts, and other thoughts on how we "do" education in our wonderful and diverse County.