Role of the Board of Education
Area 1
Ronald G. Froehlich – Area 1
Current Trustee Areas
Community service plays an important role in Ronald G. Froehlich’s life.
He was a trustee on the Rosedale Union School District before joining the Kern County Board of Education. He has served on the County Board of Zoning Adjustment, been a member of Lions International and been an advisor to 4-H.
A successful farmer and businessman, he freely admits that education was not an important part of his life when he attended high school. That changed after he left school and saw that, in an ever-changing world, education is not an option but a must. Today he is the first to say that “. . . kids are my top priority.”
Area 2
Joan M. Smith – Area 2
Current Trustee Areas
Joan is a native of Kern County. She was born in Wasco and resides in Delano.
Joan earned her BA, her Master’s in Education (Reading & Early Literacy) and her teaching credential from CSU, Bakersfield.
Joan was a teacher in the Delano Union School District from 1978 to 2017. She participated in a variety of leadership positions including District Kindergarten Chair, Bilingual Education Committee, School Site Title 1 Leadership. She also provided parent training for the Migrant Education Program.
Joan worked as a teacher on special assignment as a trainer for Accelerating Literacy and all district literacy curricula and professional development, and in the BTSA and New Teacher Support program, focused on professional development and support for new teachers countywide.
She has served as an adjunct faculty member at CSUB School of Education since 2001 and also taught at Bakersfield College’s Delano Campus.
Joan is actively involved in the Delano community with many local community organizations.
Area 3
Mary M. Little – Area 3
Mary M. Little works in a demanding career in addition to serving on the Kern County Board of Education. Since joining the board, Mary has been active in the Kern County School Boards Association which plays a role in state and locally-related educational initiatives. After raising her children, Mary returned to college, earned her degree and then joined the Kern County Department of Human Services. In this capacity, she manages numerous cases involving dependent children and adults.
Area 4
Jose Gonzalez – Area 4
Jose Gonzalez is a self-employed accountant and father of four children. Prior to his appointment on the Kern County Board of Education, he served on the Lamont School District for 10 1/2 years. He also is a member of the Kern County Committee on School District Organization. State statute directs this committee to hear and prepare recommendations on school district annexations, unification proposals and related boundary changes. His volunteer involvement and interest in public education stems from his goal to make children realize that they have the opportunity to learn and schools an obligation to each and every student.
Area 5
Paula Bray – Area 5
Paula Bray was elected to the Kern County Board of Education in 2020. She represents Trustee Area 5.
Ms. Bray serves as Director, Facilities Management Services Administration for California State University, Bakersfield. She is a graduate of Foothill College and San Jose State University and is a Certified Educational Facilities Professional. Ms. Bray is a board member with the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science.
Area 6
Daniel R. Giordano – Area 6
Daniel R. Giordano was appointed in June, 2020 after the passing of long time Board member Michael Butcher. A native of Bakersfield, Mr. Giordano attended Garces Memorial High School and graduated from the University of Southern California. He established the local business Glinn & Giordano Physical Therapy in 1980, which now employs 75 people in four local offices. He has been active in many local organizations, including the American Lung Association, CASA, Links for Life, the Plank Foundation, Salvation Army and the Valley Fever of America Foundation. Mr. Giordano has a long history of involvement with Rotary. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield East, and has held numerous leadership positions with Rotary International and Rotary District 5240.
Area 7
Ernie Bell – Area 7
Ernie Bell retired in 2019 as Superintendent of the Sierra Sands Unified School District, located in Ridgecrest, California. Mr. Bell had a distinguished 35-year career with the Sierra Sands Unified School District, the same district he attended as a student. A native of Ridgecrest, Mr. Bell served as a teacher, coach, principal and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources prior to becoming Superintendent in 2014.
He is a graduate of UC Davis and California State University, Bakersfield.
Mr. Bell and his family have all remained in Ridgecrest and are involved in numerous community activities aimed at enhancing the quality of life for those who reside in Eastern Kern County.