Los Nietos Educational Foundation - a registered 501(c)3

About the Team

At the Los Nietos Educational Foundaton, we’ve built our  Board of Directors with individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying interests and areas of expertise, but with the common desire to support and impact our students and community. Together, we work towards providing the support and resources students need to be successful. Get to know our dynamic team.

The Board

President

Emilio Sosa

Emilio Sosa

Emilio Sosa is the Founder of the Los Nietos Educational Foundation.  He has also proudly served the Los Nietos/West Whittier community as an elected
member of the Los Nietos School District Board of Trustees since 2016. During his tenure,
he has held the role of Board President for three years and was most recently re-elected in
2024. Prior to joining the Board, Emilio contributed to the District’s Bond Oversight
Committee and led the Aeolian Elementary School Parent Teacher Committee as
President.
With more than 28 years of executive leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, Emilio
is deeply committed to advancing opportunities for students and families in underserved
and at-risk communities. His work focuses on expanding access to resources through
strategic planning, community engagement, board development, and fundraising. Emilio
brings expertise in innovation, organizational planning, effective team building, data-driven
decision-making, fiscal management, and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a minor in Early Childhood
Education from Pacific Oaks College. Emilio is also an active member of the Rotary Club
of Downey and has previously served on several boards, including the Long Beach
Community College Foundation, Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Lakewood Rotary
Club, and the YMCA of the USA Hispanic/Latino Roadmap Committee.
A proud resident of the Los Nietos community, Emilio enjoys life with his wife Laura and
their daughters, Natalia and Iliana, both proud Los Nietos School District Alumni. Outside
of his professional and civic commitments, he can often be found outdoors spending time
with his family and their three dogs—Kooper, Lola, and Daisy.

About Emilio
Vice President

Mike Seril

Mike Seril

Michael Y. Seril is a Founding Board Member of the Los Nietos Educational Foundation.  He is an award winning Personal Trainer, Community Leader, and Business Owner. He earned his Masters & Bachelors degrees in Kinesiology from CSUN and has been a Personal Trainer for over 27 years. He is the Owner of Michael Seril Fitness Studio, a 4x Business of the Year Winner that was recently voted the Whittier Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year and Business Person of the Year 2022-2024.

Mike is a Board Member and serves as the Vice President of the Los Nietos Educational Foundation. He is also a Board Member/Vice Chair of Community Affairs for the Whittier Chamber of Commerce.

Mike was recently awarded the 2025 Whittier Volunteer of the Year for his community leadership and Pay It Forward events throughout the city. Mike stays active by playing various sports, riding his mountain bike, rucking with his ruck pack and taking his furbaby "Eva da Diva" on their daily walks at the park.

About Mike
Treasurer

James Marcel

James Marcel

James Marcel is a Founding Board Member of the Los Nietos Educational Foundation. He is a finance professional with over 20 years of experience in the field. He currently works at AbbVie within the R&D Finance department, where he is responsible for managing finances for toxin and skincare-related clinical trials. James has served on the LNEF board for more than two years and is an active supporter of the community, volunteering at events such as Trunk-or-Treat, the turkey giveaway, Bowling for Charity, and the Holiday Shoe Event. A resident of the community since 2001, James has been married for 25 years and is the proud parent of three children, all of whom are graduates of the district schools.

About James
Secretary

Richard Gonzalez

Richard Gonzelz

Richard Gonzales serves as the Assistant to the Superintendent for the Los Nietos School District. Since beginning his career in education in 2016, he has worked in multiple school districts, holding key positions in both Human Resources and the Superintendent’s Office, contributing to district operations and student success.

In addition to his professional work, Richard has been an active member of the Los Nietos Educational Foundation since 2025, supporting programs and initiatives that enrich opportunities for students and families.

About Richard
Member

Becky Speh

Becky Speh

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Los Nietos School District

Becky Speh is a dedicated educational leader with over 20 years of experience serving students, staff, and families. Mrs. Speh currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Los Nietos School District, where she oversees all areas of human resources, including recruitment, labor relations, policy development, employee support, professional development, and district communications. Throughout her career, Mrs. Speh has been committed to building positive school cultures, supporting staff growth, and ensuring that students have access to safe and thriving learning environments.

Mrs. Speh holds a Master’s degree in Education: School Administration from Azusa Pacific University and was recognized as ACSA Region 15 WASA’s Elementary Principal of the Year in 2021. Prior to her work at the district level, she served as an elementary and middle school principal, assistant principal, and classroom teacher, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the needs of school communities.

About Becky
Member

Edgar Fagen

Edgar Fagen

Coming Soon!

About Edgar
Member

Douglas McMasters

Douglas McMasters

Coming Soon!

About Douglas
Member

Dr. Ramiro Rubalcaba, Ed.D.

Dr. Ramiro Rubalcaba

Dr. Ramiro Rubalcaba is a Founding Board Member of the Los Nietos Educational Foundation. He brings nearly three decades of experience in education, having served in a wide range of roles including Teacher’s Assistant, Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and, currently, Superintendent of the Los Nietos School District.

His leadership extends beyond K–12 education; he has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of La Verne and as a consultant and keynote speaker for school districts and organizations nationwide. His work has included collaborations with the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, the California Department of Justice, and various Departments of Education.

Dr. Rubalcaba is an active member of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). He has contributed as a member of the State Council for Secondary School Principals representing Region 15, served as a facilitator for the ACSA Personnel Academy, and currently co-chairs the ACSA Region 15 Superintendents Committee. In 2021, he was named ACSA Region 12 Personnel Administrator of the Year. In 2025, he was honored as Superintendent of the Year by the Whittier Area School Administrators Association (WASA), and recognized by the National Association for School Superintendents (NASS) for excellence in Small School District Leadership. He also participated in a legislative delegation to Washington, D.C., and the White House, where he advocated for California’s
educational priorities.

In addition to his professional contributions, Dr. Rubalcaba serves on the Board of Directors for the Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) and has been widely recognized for his commitment to community service. His honors include the President’s Community Leader of the Year Award from Toyota Financial Services, the Dean’s Superintendent Advisory Group Award, and the Eli and Elizabeth Emery-Stoops Award from the University of Southern California, and the Champion for Character Award from the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section.

Dr. Rubalcaba is a respected voice in educational leadership, frequently speaking on topics such as leadership development, school culture and climate, and wellness. He views education not only as a profession, but as a calling—a powerful vehicle for positive societal change.

About Ramiro