An empty seat has been filled on the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education. 

During a special meeting Wednesday, the board appointed Guadalupe resident Magdalena Serrano, who immediately took the oath of office.

The slot became vacant in mid-July with the resignation of Diana Perez.

“What an honor to take this vow on September 11th,’’ Serrano said in a written statement. “I look forward to working with all of you. My presence on the board will ensure that the district considers the broader context of students’ lives, leading to more effective, compassionate, and trauma-informed approaches to the challenges faced by our youth, and lead to better outcomes.’’

Before picking Serrano, the four members interviewed three candidates who applied for the seat representing Area 4 on the board. 

The two other applicants were Isaias Rosas, senior program coordinator for Youth Evolution Activities and a senior center and community services coordinator for the City of Guadalupe, plus Jose Huitron, a lecturer at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business and a startup and growth advisor at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Serrano works as the director of behavioral health and psychiatry services for the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast. 

She is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma-informed treatment of indigenous populations. She has a master’s degree in social work from USC and a certificate in public health training for American Indian health professionals from Johns Hopkins University.

Serrano also serves as a board member for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

She will serve as an appointed  incumbent for the remaining two years on the term since Perez resigned too late for the vacancy to appear on this year’s ballot. 

Two terms will expire this year, with Jack Garvin choosing not to seek another four years on the board. Tammie Castillo-Shiffer, an educator, was the lone candidate to file for Garvin’s Area 1 seat, so that term won’t appear on the ballot. 

For Area 3, appointed incumbent Alma Hernandez will face challenger Gabriel Morales, a health care administrator, for the four-year term. The winner will be the top vote-getter in the Nov. 5 election.

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District with more than 9,500 ninth- through 12th-graders serves Santa Maria, Orcutt, Guadalupe, Sisquoc/Garey, Casmalia and Los Alamos.