UW-Madison Alum Re-Elected to School Board

University of Wisconsin-Madison alum Regina Chagolla was re-elected to the Emery Unified School District Board this past fall after serving her first two-year term, which she began following her appointment to the board in 2020.

Regina earned her B.S. from UW-Madison and a master’s in education from UC Berkeley. She has been teaching in the Berkeley Unified School District for 8 years.

“Posse taught me how to be in a team. I was trained to work with people different from me.”

“It has been an honor serving Berkeley public schools these eight years and taking part in the development of educational opportunities that serve all learners from Two-Way Immersion Program, policies and practice that uplift LGBTQ+ families as well as our implementation of research-based support for Full Inclusive Education," says Regina. "Even in the most challenging of times, our educators and community are passionate about serving all students and creating a sense of belonging in our schools.”

In addition to her school board work, Regina teaches first-grade and is the VP of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers. Her initial appointment to the school board occurred in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Her careful, responsible decision making enabled her to gain the trust of the community, resulting in a second term.

Regina credits the Posse Foundation for the educational philosophy that carried her to these various leadership roles.

“Posse taught me how to be in a team. I was trained to work with people different from me,” she explains. “I was taught to cultivate a space of collective action. In a country that is very individualistic and competitive, the Posse culture of teamwork and cheering each other on is what got me to where I am today.”

Regina is looking forward to continuing to advocate for students on the school board in years to come.