Oct. 1, 2024

Hughson Unified School District trustees unanimously voted to choose Alida Garcia to fill an open seat on the board. The decision came during a special board meeting Sept. 24 at which Garcia and two other finalists were interviewed publicly by the other four board members.

Garcia will serve the final two years in the seat formerly held by Randee Harcrow, who resigned Aug. 1. Garcia represents Area 2, which includes north and central Hughson.

Garcia is a longtime Hughson resident who graduated from Hughson High in 1979. Her husband, Eladio, and children, Eric and Stephanie, also are Hughson alums. She is the youngest of 13 children in the Carranza family, who were honored last year by the Hughson Historical Society for their contributions over many generations to the community.

Garcia has worked at Modesto Junior College since 1990. Her current role is as the faculty counselor/coordinator in the transfer center, where she assists students who want to continue their education at a four-year college or university. Many of those students are the first in their families to attend college.

Her professional background in education was one of the things that impressed Hughson’s board members.

“Alida brings a wealth of experience and a passionate commitment to education, making her an invaluable addition to our governance team,” said Board President Dan Sexton. “In our ongoing pursuit of personal and professional growth, we believe Alida's unique perspective will help us navigate the ever-changing landscape of education and enhance our efforts to foster student success.”

Garcia said she looks forward to working with other trustees and the district’s staff to help continue to deliver the high-quality education to students for which Hughson is known.

“My goals are to assist in any way I can by sharing my knowledge and experiences,” she said. “I would also like to be someone that parents can talk to and learn from. I am fluent in Spanish and hope to be able to reach that part of our community.”