Board of Education

Nancy Thomas is a Board Member at Newark Unified School District, and has served in this capacity since 2002. During her tenure, Ms. Thomas has held various leadership positions impacting the District. She has been on the Board of the Mission Valley ROP, and participated in the City/District Joint Task Force on Youth Issues. She has also been a member of the Alameda County Board Association. Ms. Thomas is proud of contributing to the passage of Measure G, Newark Quality Education and Safe Classrooms, in 2011. Another notable accomplishment was her work as Co-Principal Investigator on a $7 million NSF Math Science Partnership Grant and Noyce Supplemental Grant in which Newark science teachers participated. Making a difference in education is a driving force in her career and further demonstrated by Ms. Thomas’s work in the California State Boards Association (CSBA), where she is currently a Representative to CIF Federated Council. She is currently a CSBA Delegate Assembly Member for Region 7B Alameda County. Ms. Thomas is actively involved in the Newark Rotary Club and Newark Optimist Club. Currently, she is a Board member of Kidango, as well as past Board Member of RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching) and BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study). Ms. Thomas received her undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from San Jose State University and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. She retired from Hewlett Packard Company after 25 years of service. Ms. Thomas is a proud parent and grandparent to three adult children and five grandchildren. She enjoys playing bridge, cycling, and gardening.

Francisco Preciado Jr. has lived in Newark for the majority of his life and is proud to serve his community as a Newark Unified School District Board Member since 2015. He is committed to addressing the achievement gap between the highest and lowest achieving students and ensuring educational opportunities for all students. Mr. Preciado is known as a collaborator, a creative thinker, and leader in diversity and policy issues. He currently serves as the Executive Director for SEIU Local 2007 in the Bay Area where he dedicates his time to improve the lives of working people. Prior to this role, he worked for various state legislators and as a community organizer. A product of Newark schools from kindergarten to 12th grade, Mr. Preciado earned degrees from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law (Juris Doctorate), San Jose State University (Master’s in Mexican American studies) and Stanford University (dual Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Chicana/o Studies). Mr. Preciado is a proud father and husband. His wife and children are a constant reminder of why he is committed to making the world a better place.

Janet Christianson Crocker has served as Board Member at Newark Unified School District for the past 13 years. Appointed to the board in August of 2003 to fill an open vacancy, Ms. Crocker was then elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Ms. Crocker brings a wealth of experience in teaching, having worked in various schools throughout the Bay Area – in the cities of Oakland, South San Francisco, Hayward and Newark. Her longest tenure was with the New Haven Unified School District, where she worked for over 21 years, retiring in 2001. Her passion for public service and commitment to the Newark community is further exemplified by her active involvement as a member of Newark Rotary, Newark Optimist and Volunteers for Youth CAMP OVY.  She is currently on the Camp OVY Board.  Through these and many other efforts, Ms. Crocker devotes her time to community development and preparing youth for the future. Ms. Crocker is deeply rooted in the Newark community, and proud to be a long-time resident since 1965. With her husband Thomas Crocker, she raised three sons (Richard, Donald, and Michael) who thrived at our Newark schools and graduated from NMHS. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1960. Following her passion for learning, she pursued and earned a Master’s degree in Education, from San Jose State University.  

Ray J. Rodriguez has been serving the Newark community as a School Board Member of the Newark Unified School District since 1995. In his tenure, he has been President several times. Throughout his career, Mr. Rodriguez has demonstrated a strong dedication and commitment to ensuring educational equity and quality of life in the community. Mr. Rodriguez has served in various City committees since 1990. He has been President of the Mission Valley ROP, and has chaired a County-wide Hispanic Scholarship Program. Mr. Rodriguez has also been part of the League of Volunteer (LOV) Newark's Advisory Board and many of its programs. Mr. Rodriguez’s role in education coupled with his entrepreneurial background, as a Business owner in Newark since 1984, have promoted and strengthened local public-private partnerships. As an example, he collaborated in the founding of Avanzando, Newark. Avanzando encourages excellence through mentoring, art, tutoring, parent education and recognizing those who participate in the empowerment of the Latino community. Ray J. Rodriguez has always been motivated in serving his community, and he is well known for being a problem-solver and reaching out for families in need.  He has served as a Deacon in a local church. Mr. Rodriguez moved to California from New York City in 1973.  Three years later, he moved to Newark because he wanted to raise a family in a safe and nurturing environment. He has seven children and five grandchildren. Eight have graduated from Newark schools, two have college degrees, and five are presently attending college. Mr. Rodriguez is a Vietnam Veteran, serving our country as a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant.  

Tom N. Huynh is a passionate and innovative leader with a proven track record of 17 years in education. Currently, he is a Board Member and President of the Newark Unified School District. Mr. Huynh is also the Principal at Yerba Buena High School at East Side Union High School District. Mr. Huynh is described as a highly organized, collaborative leader and change agent committed to increasing achievement and opportunities for all students. At Yerba Buena High School, Mr. Huynh has implemented professional learning communities (PLC), and fostered an environment of high expectations for all students. This and other investments have led to increasing student enrollment for each of the past five years, improvements in overall grade point average, increased graduation rates each year, a two-fold increase in the number of students completing A-G requirements, and a three-fold increase in Advanced Placement (AP) course participation of unique students. Tom N. Huynh is deeply engaged in the community, and participates in various advisory groups and committees. He contributes his expertise to instructional programming, school reform, LCAP, STEM, budget, and audit. Mr. Huynh has also been a member of the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Taskforce in the City of San Jose and Franklin McKinley’s Safe Zone Initiative. Mr. Huynh has been recognized for his leadership and transformational efforts. In 2015, he was Principal of the Year in ACSA Region 8 in Santa Clara County, and received a commendation from the City of San Jose. He has also received a Board President Award from East Side Union School District. Prior to his current appointment at NUSD, Tom N. Huynh was a coach, teacher, coordinator, and intern for Assistant Principal at Newark Memorial High School. Mr. Huynh graduated from Saint Mary’s College with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science. He is also credentialed in Clear Administrative Services and Clear Single Subject.