Executive Board
2026-2027
Your Executive Board is committed to strong representation, clear communication, and supporting every member of our union.
William Renner, EdD
School/Worksite: Previously Cal Aero K-8
About Me:
I have been in CVUSD for 11 years and before becoming president, I taught 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade. I have previously served as a site rep and as Elementary Director for ACT. I am also on the NEA Resolutions Committee and am a CTA State Council representative
Union Priorities:
Strong contracts–our contract is how we stand up for our rights and responsibilities as we make schools a great place for students and families
Communication–all members should know how their union is working for them and how they can get involved
Member Engagement—we should tap into the potential of all of our amazing members to work together on shared priorities.
Why I Serve: I strongly believe in the power of union membership to advocate for oneself and for others. Both of my parents were teachers (my mother was an elementary school teacher and counselor and my father was a high school government teacher), and this profession is my passion. This passion encouraged me to seek out leadership opportunities and further study. While getting my doctorate at UCLA, I studied teachers’ union members’ behavior in response to school board policy because it is important to recognize the impacts of school boards on our schools and members so we can advocate for issues that members care about
Email: wrenner@chinoteachers.org
President
Kelly Larned
School/Worksite: Alt Ed. Center
About Me:
I'm in my 28th year as an educator, and I've been involved with ACT for 20 of those years. Right now I'm serving my 14th year as Vice President, my 16th year on the Bargaining Team, and my 12th year as Bargaining Chair. I also spent four years before that as Secondary Director.
Union Priorities:
Member Advocacy: I believe that every member deserves solid representation, a real voice in the workplace, and support when problems come up.
Collective Bargaining: One of my top priorities is protecting and improving our salaries, benefits, working conditions, and contractual rights through bargaining.
Contract Enforcement – I work hard to uphold our Collective Bargaining Agreement at every site and ensure that it is followed consistently throughout the district. I also believe that every member should know the rights and protections that we have fought so hard to get.
Why I Serve: I've seen firsthand what a strong local association can do for the professional lives of educators. After all these years in different leadership roles, I keep showing up because our members deserve representation that's experienced, steady, and effective. I serve to protecting our contractual rights and making sure educators have a real voice whenever decisions get made about our pay, our working conditions, our classrooms, and our students
Email: klarned@chinoteachers.org
Vice President and Bargaining Chair
School/Worksite: Ayala High School
About Me:
This is my 10th year teaching high school mathematics in the district (15th year overall). I have been a site rep for 1 year and ACT's treasurer for 2 years.
Union Priorities:
Member Advocacy - We Are Stronger Together
Professional Development - Take Advantage of CTA Conferences
Communication - What Is Going On in Our Union?
Why I Serve:
I am happily serving on ACT's Executive Board. I am passionate about ensuring good governance of our resources and making sure that how we allocate our funds matches our values.
Email: gnelson@chinoteachers.org
Treasurer
Gregory Nelson
School/Worksite: Briggs K-8
About Me:
This is my 8th year teaching in CVUSD. I have been in the education for 15 years, working as an ESL Tutor, Preschool Paraprofessional, and Substitute Teacher. I come from a family of teachers. My mother taught in Pomona for 38 years; my grandfather was a professor at Cal Poly Pomona; and my grandmother was a teacher and principal. I have an associates degree as an educational paraprofessional, a bachelors degree in liberal studies, and a masters degree in education.
Union Priorities:
Collective power— I am passionate about grassroots mobilization, empowering our site reps, and ensuring transparent communication with our members.
At the state and national levels, I fight to amplify our local voices, advocating for fully funded public schools and policies that recognize that our working conditions are our students' learning conditions
Why I Serve:
I serve because I believe our true power lies in our collective voice. As your Organizing Chair and Secretary, my goal is to ensure every member feels informed, empowered, and supported in their daily work. I am passionate about building grassroots solidarity because when we stand together at the local level, we not only protect our own rights and working conditions, but we also build the strong, fully-resourced public schools our students deserve.
Email: spalmer@chinoteachers.org
Secretary and Organizing Chair
Sarah Palmer
School/Worksite: Cal Aero K-8
About Me:
Over the course of my 28-year teaching career, I have taken on numerous leadership roles to support both students and colleagues. As a mentor to new teachers, a member of the bargaining committee, and a site representative for nine years, I am committed to collaboration, advocacy, and professional growth within the school community.
Union Priorities:
Safe Working Environments for ALL
Member advocacy
Collaboration
Professional Support
Why I Serve:
I am committed to supporting and advocating for ACT members by listening to their concerns, fostering open communication, and working collaboratively to address their needs. My goal is to ensure every member feels valued, informed, and represented.
Email: lalonso@chinoteachers.org
Elementary Director
Lara Alonso
Susie Hofmann
School/Worksite: Chaparral Elementary
About Me:
This is my 31st and final year teaching! I have taught 4th grade for 29 of those years. I’m not sure when my union involvement began, but I was a “regular” at school board meetings when my kids were young, and was asked to take on a role in ACT. I spent a decade bargaining including being the Bargaining Chair when we went to impasse! I’ve served as one of the Elementary Directors for more years than I can count. I am most proud of helping gain the 150 minutes of uninterrupted prep time for elem. teachers.
Union Priorities:
Member advocacy
Student success
Collaboration
Member Engagement
Why I Serve:
I serve to make sure that members are being treated fairly and to help educate members on the contract.
Email: shofmann@chinoteachers.org
Elementary Director
School/Worksite: Don Lugo High School
About Me:
I became an educator because I believe in the power of public education and the difference teachers make every day. For the past 26 years, I have valued collaboration, building positive relationships, and supporting both students and colleagues. These values led me to serve on the Executive Board of ACT.
Why I Serve:
Serving as Secondary Director has given me the opportunity to advocate for educators, listen to the concerns of my colleagues, and help ensure that every member's voice is heard.
I believe that leadership is about being approachable, listening with empathy, and speaking up for those who may not always feel comfortable speaking for themselves. I strive to be a voice for those whose perspectives might otherwise go unheard and
to help create a culture where everyone feels respected, supported, and represented.
Email: ccelaya@chinoteachers.org
Secondary Director
Candida Celaya
School/Worksite: Don Lugo High School
About Me: I have been a teacher in the district for 16 years, all of them at Don Lugo. I am a Special Education Math Teacher and I am department chair for Special Education. This is my 3rd year as Secondary Director and I have also been active with the Special Education Committee as well as the Human Rights and Equity Committee.
Union Priorities:
Member advocacy; getting more union members involved especially during an election year.
Why I Serve:
I serve because it is very important to me for Special Education teacher voices to be heard. Our students might be a small part of our population but they are a very important part of our population. I also became actively involved in school board meetings when we were seeking a raise in our contract because we deserve to be compensated for our hard work and to be appreciated in our profession.
Email: jcortes@chinoteachers.org
Secondary Director
Jackie Cortes
Debi Woolery
School/Worksite: Don Lugo High School
About Me: I have been an SLP in this district for 37 years. Prior to that I worked at General Dynamics for 11 years. I have been doing AAC Assessments for 17 years. I started as a site rep and elementary liaison, and then became Special Services Director in 2018
Union Priorities:
Professional development–our members can expand their knowledge and skills with research-based content
Student Success–it is important that we work together to find the best ways to help students achieve their potential in our schools
Collaboration–I want to work effectively with our members to advocate for what we deserve as union members
Why I Serve: Special Education has always been a passion of mine and my top priority is getting additional strong contract language to protect our special education students and teachers who serve this population.
Email: dwoolery@chinoteachers.org
Special Services Director
Rachel Guillemet
School/worksite: Chino High School
About Me: I have been a counselor in this district for 5 years. I have been a site rep at Chino for 4 years, Health and Welfare Chairperson for 3 years, and this is my 2nd year being Communications Director for Associated Chino Teachers. I am also going on my 2nd year as a voting member for CTA’s Service Center 1, and a 2-year voting member of NEA’s Representative Assembly.
Union Priorities:
Communication- Being clear and transparent about the work being done in our union.
Member Advocacy- Ensuring the voices of our members are heard.
Student Success- Ensuring our district's practices and policies are in the best interest of the students.
Why I Serve: I believe it's important for all members to be protected and have a voice in the issues that impact them most closely.
Email: rguillemet@chinoteachers.org
Communications Director