Board of Directors
VCS Board of Directors' meetings during the 25-26 school year will be held on the following dates:
August 7th, 2025
November 25th, 2025
December 11th, 2025
January 22nd, 2026
February 26th, 2026
May 14th, 2026
June 25th, 2026
Board Members
Joni Angel, Board Chair/President
Joni Angel is an accomplished leader in education policy and advocacy. She began her career
as a Teach For America corps member, teaching at both a traditional district school and a charter school. At the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), Joni spent twelve years in progressive roles, including Vice President of Political Affairs and Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer. Currently, as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Coalition for Excellent Public Schools (LACEPS), she leads a coalition of ten major Charter Management Organizations, focused on ensuring a political environment of quality and equity for 50,000 students across 115 schools. Joni holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, a Master’s in Teaching from Pace University, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
as a Teach For America corps member, teaching at both a traditional district school and a charter school. At the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), Joni spent twelve years in progressive roles, including Vice President of Political Affairs and Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer. Currently, as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Coalition for Excellent Public Schools (LACEPS), she leads a coalition of ten major Charter Management Organizations, focused on ensuring a political environment of quality and equity for 50,000 students across 115 schools. Joni holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, a Master’s in Teaching from Pace University, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.Rachel Hazlehurst, Board Member
Rachel Hazlehurst's passion for urban education and its' potential to positively impact communities began when she was a Teach for America corps member and fifth-grade bilingual
teacher at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy's Burlington Campus. Since then, she has served in a variety of leadership roles at Camino Nuevo. Rachel was the founding literacy and bilingual education coordinator at Camino Nuevo's Cisneros Campus when the school first opened in 2011. She then became the network's director of language and literacy, responsible for offering guidance, support, and oversight to ensure that teachers across the network were providing high-quality instruction to all students, especially multilingual learners. More recently, as Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction, Rachel led the content team, which focuses on implementing strong instructional practices and frameworks across schools. Rachel is currently the Chief Academic Officer at CNCA. She leads teams across the organization to ensure all instructionally related programs. academic, student and family supports, expanded learning, special education - are working coherently and with excellence on behalf of students and families. Rachel holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in elementary education from Loyola Marymount University.
teacher at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy's Burlington Campus. Since then, she has served in a variety of leadership roles at Camino Nuevo. Rachel was the founding literacy and bilingual education coordinator at Camino Nuevo's Cisneros Campus when the school first opened in 2011. She then became the network's director of language and literacy, responsible for offering guidance, support, and oversight to ensure that teachers across the network were providing high-quality instruction to all students, especially multilingual learners. More recently, as Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction, Rachel led the content team, which focuses on implementing strong instructional practices and frameworks across schools. Rachel is currently the Chief Academic Officer at CNCA. She leads teams across the organization to ensure all instructionally related programs. academic, student and family supports, expanded learning, special education - are working coherently and with excellence on behalf of students and families. Rachel holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in elementary education from Loyola Marymount University.
Haleigh Ike, Treasurer
Haleigh Ike began her teaching career at Valley Charter in 2010. She initially worked as a
teaching assistant and then took on a position as the founding 3rd grade teacher. After a couple of years, she moved into the role of founding 5th grade teacher. Haleigh has also worked within Los Angeles Unified as a grade level teacher and leader. She holds a Master's degree in Multicultural and Multilingual Education as well as a Master's in Educational Leadership and an Administrative Credential.
teaching assistant and then took on a position as the founding 3rd grade teacher. After a couple of years, she moved into the role of founding 5th grade teacher. Haleigh has also worked within Los Angeles Unified as a grade level teacher and leader. She holds a Master's degree in Multicultural and Multilingual Education as well as a Master's in Educational Leadership and an Administrative Credential.Ashley Jacobson, Middle School Parent Representative
As a proud Valley Charter parent for the past four years and a current VCMS parent, Ashley is invested in the
continued success of VCMS. She is enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve on the board and help ensure that VCMS remains a supportive, innovative, and community-driven environment for all of our children. Ashley believes in the mission of Valley Charter and is committed to working collaboratively to help make Valley Charter Middle School be the very best it can be.
continued success of VCMS. She is enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve on the board and help ensure that VCMS remains a supportive, innovative, and community-driven environment for all of our children. Ashley believes in the mission of Valley Charter and is committed to working collaboratively to help make Valley Charter Middle School be the very best it can be.
Angie Saldivar, Secretary
Ms. Saldivar is currently the Sr. Director of Customer Experience at Paramount. Angie leads the team responsible for providing customer service to online customers. The team maintains close relationships with internal product 
teams to ensure the voice of the customer is being heard. In her time at Paramount, she has overseen the customer service strategy and onboarding for all digital products. Angie is passionate about customer service, digital media, streaming, technology, and online safety. Throughout her career, Angie managed several teams at Myspace and consulted for startup companies. Her leadership has extended the .com and mobile space, including; customer service, moderation, law enforcement response, online safety, and security.
teams to ensure the voice of the customer is being heard. In her time at Paramount, she has overseen the customer service strategy and onboarding for all digital products. Angie is passionate about customer service, digital media, streaming, technology, and online safety. Throughout her career, Angie managed several teams at Myspace and consulted for startup companies. Her leadership has extended the .com and mobile space, including; customer service, moderation, law enforcement response, online safety, and security.Rohit Sharma, VCES Parent Representative (picture coming soon!)
Rohit is the parent of a five-year old and a long-time resident of North Hills. He is deeply invested in ensuring that all children in our community receive a high-quality education and that families can thrive in a safe, supportive environment. His work experience as an actor and a project manager gives him 15 years of experience working with cross functional teams, learning how to communicate essential messaging, and guiding collective choices. Rohit believes that supporting VCES in achieveing its mission and cultivating a vibrant community with our students is a privilege.
Jonathan Tiongco, Board Member
Jonathan Tiongco currently serves as the Founding Principal and Executive Director for the Alliance Marine - Innovation & Technology 6-12 Complex (Alliance MIT). He was named Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Principal of the Year in 2020. Prior to his current position, he has served in various roles over the last 2
decades, including teacher, coach, coordinator, director, and district administrator. Outside of his school work, he is honored to serve as a member on multiple boards and volunteer in the community. He and his wife, Sally, are the proud parents of two amazing children, Madelyn and Miles. As a side passion project, he and his family own and operate Six Taste, the highest rated and most culturally diverse walking food tour company in their beloved hometown of Los Angeles.
decades, including teacher, coach, coordinator, director, and district administrator. Outside of his school work, he is honored to serve as a member on multiple boards and volunteer in the community. He and his wife, Sally, are the proud parents of two amazing children, Madelyn and Miles. As a side passion project, he and his family own and operate Six Taste, the highest rated and most culturally diverse walking food tour company in their beloved hometown of Los Angeles.To contact Valley Charter School's Board of Directors please email VCSBoard@valleycharterschool.org .
