Donna Parks was elected to the Ripon School Board in November 2006 and took office in December that same year.  Currently the Board President, she has been married to her husband, Phil. for 30 years and is the mother of 4 boys, 3 of whom are graduates of Ripon High School and one a graduate of Ripon Christian.  Both Donna and her husband are employed in the private business sector, he as in independent business owner and she in home mortgage lending.

Active in her son’s many school and community sports activities when they were in school, she believes children are a gift.  She is especially appreciative of school staff for positively influencing and mentoring her children and other students to help make their dreams become a reality.

While on the school board Donna has been able to give both a “Mom’s and “Working Mom’s” perspective in board decision-making.  This has been especially helpful as the board has addressed issues like balancing the district’s budget, maintaining reasonable class sizes, and investing in technology to improve instruction.

Donna is a graduate of Lincoln High School in Stockton.  She values higher education and vocational education for our students.  She loves reading, gardening and cooking in her spare time.