School Board Members

Sarah Cassanego - President

First Year on Board: 2020 (appointed 10/1/2020)
Current Term Ends: 2026
Committee Assignments: 2+2 Joint City/School District Committee, Board Policy Subcommittee
Other Education/Community Leadership: Previously served on the Board of Directors at Little Hands Preschool in Belmont; Co-Founder, San Carlos Parents for Racial Equity.
Professional Experience: Program Manager, Sustainable San Mateo County; clean energy and environmental policy and program management
Personal Info: Sarah and her husband (a San Carlos native) have lived in San Carlos since 2013 and have two children in SCSD schools.
E-Mail: [email protected]

Neil Layton - Vice President

First Year on Board: 2017
Current Term Ends: 2026
Committee Assignments: 2+2 Joint City/School District Committee, Facilities Master Plan
Other Education/Community Leadership: BA, University of Washington; University of Wisconsin Law School; Alameda County legislative committee
Professional Experience: Works for Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office
Personal Info: He and his wife, Kate, have lived in San Carlos with their two daughters since 2013. In his spare time, he likes to travel with his family, play and coach sports and watch anything involving the University of Washington sports.
E-Mail: [email protected]

Tracy Park - Clerk

First Year on Board: 2022
Current Term Ends: 2028
Committee Assignments: Board Policy Subcommittee
Other Education/Community Leadership: B.A. in Mathematical Economic Analysis from Rice University; MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has served on PTA executive boards and committees, led the Art in Action program at Mariposa and volunteers at her children's schools when possible. In addition to her volunteering, Tracy was also a substitute teacher for the school district.
Professional Experience: Work experience includes financial analysis for two energy companies, management consulting at Booz Allen Hamilton and leadership roles at two education nonprofits. At Teach For America, Tracy served as the Director of Planning and Operations, guiding its largest region through record growth, and at Teach For All, she was the Managing Director of Organizational Development, helping social entrepreneurs develop their strategic plans, budgets and staff resources.
Personal Info: Tracy has two children at SCSD schools. Tracy and her husband Nara moved to San Carlos in 2018 because of the city’s outstanding schools and she is excited to now be serving as a board trustee.
E-Mail: [email protected]

Sarah Johnson Kinahan - Trustee

First Year on Board: 2022
Current Term Ends: 2028
Committee Assignments: Advocacy, Representative to the San Mateo County Committee on School District Organization
Other Education/Community Leadership: MA in Cultural Anthropology from Portland State University; BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley.
Professional Experience: Sarah has spent the past two decades working for nonprofit and government programs in the early care and education sector in San Mateo County. She began her career at the Child Care Coordinating Council (4Cs), where she ultimately served as the Executive Director for two years, providing strategic direction during the Great Recession. Sarah was excited to join the San Mateo County Office of Education in 2020 as the Coordinator for the Child Care Partnership Council because this position allows her to synthesize previous experiences working on public policy, data and research, and advocacy to continue to improve the early care and education systems in the county. While at SMCOE, she played a key role on the San Mateo County COVID-19 Child Care Response Team.
Personal Info: Sarah and her husband moved to San Carlos in 2009. They have two children who attend Arroyo and Central schools. Sarah's favorite school volunteer role is being a docent for Art in Action. You may see the Kinahan family around town walking their dog, Lucy.
E-Mail: [email protected]

Ben Kornell - Trustee

First Year on Board: 2021 (appointed 5/27/2021)
Current Term Ends: 2026
Committee Assignments: Facilities Master Plan
Other Education/Community Leadership: AYSO Soccer Coach
Professional Experience: Middle School Educator; School systems leader; and EdTech CEO
Personal Info: Ben and his wife moved to San Carlos in 2014. Their two sons will attend Mariposa and Heather in the upcoming school year. They love to go for family hikes with their dog, Bruno.
E-Mail: [email protected]

To contact the full board*, please email [email protected].

*includes Superintendent