Board Members
Alida Garcia Area 2 Term: 2024- 2026
Alida Garcia was appointed by the Board on September 24, 2024.
Alida is a long time Hughson resident and a Hughson High School graduate. She has been married to Eladio for 37 years. Their two children Eric and Stephanie are also Hughson graduates.
Alida started her educational career in education at Modesto Junior College in 1990. She started as a Program Assistant in the EOP&S program and then moved to Counseling faculty and most recently to the Counseling faculty/ Transfer Center Coordinator role. In this position she works closely with students to ensure they are transfer ready and assists them to smoothly transition to their dream universities. She assists students transferring to the UC, CSU, Private and Out of State Universities.
Mrs. Garcia has been an involved parent in the schools and in the sports her children participated in. She assisted in class rooms, went on field trips and was the editor of the youth football yearbook for many years. She was on the board for the Family Resource Center and taught catechism classes at Saint Anthony’s church. Mrs. Garcia has served on a multitude of committees at the college including over 20 years for the Hispanic Education Conference where she received the Legacy Award in October of 2023 for her longtime commitment to the success of the conference. Alida is one of the Founders and past president of the Latina Leadership network at Modesto Junior College.
Daniel Sexton Area 3 Term: 2020 - 2024
Daniel Sexton was appointed by the Board January 22, 2015.
Mr. Sexton is a long-time Hughson resident and a Hughson High School graduate, who has been married to Robin Adams Sexton (also a HHS graduate) for over 22 years. They have two sons, both who attended Hughson schools.
Mr. Sexton has been employed as an outside sales consultant for the last 15+ years. Mr. Sexton has been an involved parent with the schools and community, serving as room-parent and as a youth baseball coach for six years.
Randall (Randy) Heckman Area: 4 Term 2022- 2026
Randall (Randy) Heckman was elected to Hughson Unified School District Board in 2005. Mr. Heckman came to Hughson in 1969 when he was employed by the Hughson Union High School District. During the 30+ years Mr. Heckman worked for the Hughson Schools, he served as a teacher, coach, counselor, vice-principal, principal and District Superintendent for the Hughson Union High School District, and was subsequently hired to become the first Superintendent of the Hughson Unified School District. He served in that capacity until July of 2000 when he retired and began a consulting service (Professional Resources) with his wife, Pat.
In addition to consulting, Mr. Heckman also works for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has served as a chairperson for school accreditation teams both stateside and overseas.
Mark Foss Area: 5 Term 2022-2026
Mark Foss was appointed by the Board on June 15, 2021.
Mr. Foss is a lifelong Hughson resident. He attended all three Hughson unified schools and graduated from Hughson High in 2000. While at Hughson High he played football and competed in track. He attended the University of Redlands earning his bachelors of science in business administration.
The Foss family has resided in district five for almost fifty years, and Mark was able to purchase his family’s property after college. He currently resides there with his wife Amanda, and attorney and college professor, and his two children, Colt a freshman at Hughson High school and Brooklyn, a six grade student in Hughson.
Mr. Foss continues to support Hughson Schools at all levels through his children and through the community. In Mark’s spare time, he enjoys coaching football and watching his children compete in sports.
Darin Chiesa Area 1 Term: 2020 - 2024
Darin Chiesa was elected to the board in November 2020. He is a lifelong Hughson resident and a Hughson High School graduate. Darin is an energetic single adult who wants the best for his small community.
Mr. Chiesa has spent time in retail and the automotive industry, but he prefers agriculture and is currently working on the family ranch. He has no relatives in Hughson Schools, yet he is willing to put in the effort to ensure the district maintains its high quality education for its residents.