Meet the Board

Emily Andrade

Elected to the Board in 2010

Current Term: 2022 – 2026

Email: emily.andrade@eusd.net

Emily is a native of San Diego and has lived in Encinitas for the last seventeen years. She attended San Diego State University earning a B.A in English and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Reading. She has three adult children who were all educated in public schools and the California university system.

Emily had the pleasure of working as an educator for 37 years. She worked in the Santee School District from 1972 to 1989 serving as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, curriculum coordinator and vice principal. From 1989 to 2006, Emily served as an elementary school principal in the Encinitas Union School District at three schools, La Costa Heights, Olivenhain Pioneer, and Capri. In 2006 she returned to the Santee School District as an Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services (curriculum and instruction). She retired in September, 2009, She was elected to the EUSD Governing Board in 2010 and reelected in 2014.

During her career, Emily won multiple awards for her exceptional leadership as an educator including: Greater San Diego Reading Association Award of Excellence-2003, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, National Blue Ribbon Principal – 2001, Junior Achievement Chairman’s Education Award – 2001, California Distinguished School’s Principal Award-1997, Encinitas Union School District Administrator of the Year – 1997, Leadership 2000 Outstanding North County Principal – 1992, ACSA Region XVIII Exemplary Co-Administrator – 1987-88 and Santee School District Management Employee of the Year – 1989.

Emily has a sincere passion for children and is dedicated to providing a quality education for every child. She is also committed to service to others. She is a member of the Encinitas Rotary Club where she is an active participant in local and international service projects. Additionally, she supports service endeavors through her church including the Kids Kingdom Orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico.

Monica Lee
Elected to the Board in November, 2024
Current Term: 2024 – 2028
Email: monica.lee@eusd.net

Monica Lee is a California native who grew up in the small town of Los Olivos. Monica fell in love with art at a young age and she finds joy in sharing visual and performing arts with children. In college she spent time studying abroad in both Italy and Ireland and graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA in 1999. Monica later attended University California Santa Barbara where she earned her Master’s Degree in Education in 2003, with credentials in both Art and English.

Monica moved to San Diego in 2002 where she first taught at Carmel Valley Middle School, followed by San Ysidro High School for 14 years. She has extensive experience working with English Language Learners and low-income students and has a deep working knowledge of the challenges they face. After having two children of her own, Monica moved to North County in 2021 and taught Art at Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School for three years. 

Monica lives in Olivenhain with her husband and their two children who attend EUSD. Monica is a Girl Scout Troop leader, Children’s Ministry volunteer at her church, and volunteers regularly at the elementary school her children attend. She is a practicing artist and a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild.

Monica is a champion for the teachers of Encinitas, a partner to families, and an advocate for all children. She believes schools should be focused on academics with a goal to build happy, creative, independent thinkers. Monica serves to represent you, please feel free to reach out to her with any questions, comments or concerns.

Tom Morton
Appointed to the Board May 22, 2023
Current Term: 2024 - 2026
Email: tom.morton@eusd.net

Tom was born and raised in a small village in England. He has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Manchester and a masters in Environmental Technology from Imperial College, London. His first trip to the USA was as a Summer Camp Counselor at YMCA Camp Marston in 1997. It was Camp Marston that taught him all kids should feel they belong at camp, just like all kids should feel like they belong in our schools. It was also where he met his wife, with whom he now has two children. 

Tom and his family have lived in La Costa since 2006, with a brief time out of state in 2009. His children attended La Costa Heights Elementary School for a total of 12 years. As a family, they were deeply involved in school life. It was this sense of service and an obligation to repay the district for the support his family received that encouraged Tom to apply for the position of school board trustee when a vacancy arose.

He is committed to the growth and development of our district, ensuring our students have the skills required to thrive in a fast-changing world. He is proud of all that the Board and District have achieved while also acknowledging that the work is never done. He approaches the job of trustee with openness and humility, knowing that we make better decisions together than alone.

Tom’s two favorite EUSD values are Joy and Belonging.

Marla Strich
Elected to the Board in 1998
Current Term: 2022 – 2026
Email: marla.strich@eusd.net

Marla Strich is an active participant in both school and community organizations. Her involvement with the District began as serving as a co-chair of the successful campaign for the District’s $29.5 million facilities school modernization bond in 1996. She has served as chairperson of the Ocean Knoll Elementary and San Dieguito Academy School Site Councils and as Ocean Knoll’s PTA Legislative Vice President. Ocean Knoll PTA awarded her the Golden Oak, PTA’s highest award.

Marla was appointed to the California School Board’s Association Delegate Assembly in 2017. She serves as Legislative Chair for the San Diego County School Boards Association. Mrs. Strich also participates on the District’s Legislative Action Committee. She was President of the San Dieguito Academy Foundation Board. She has been a member of the Legislative Action Network and Strategic Planning Committee for the San Dieguito Union High School District and participates in the North Coastal Regional Legislative Action Network. She has traveled to Sacramento numerous times to lobby for public education and has also advocated for our children in Washington, DC as part of the National School Board Association’s Federal Relations Network. She has served as School Board President four times during her tenure. In 2000 she completed the California School Board Association’s Masters in Governance professional development series. 

In addition to serving as a classroom volunteer for many years, Marla was a Girl Scout Leader for ten years, and has been a member of the Girl Scout Leadership Team in Encinitas and a Cub Scout den leader. She continues as one of the adult leadership team for San Dieguito Academy’s Robotics Team, Team Paradox, coordinating FIRST Lego League Robotics activities and competitions. She was recognized as 2016 Volunteer of the Year by FIRST Lego League Southern California Region for her contributions to the growth of the program. She was Ocean Knoll Elementary’s Volunteer of the Year in 2002, for her many school and community-related activities.

Marla has resided in Encinitas for the past 31 years with her husband Dan. Their two children both attended Ocean Knoll Elementary from Kindergarten through sixth grade. Mrs. Strich graduated from Northwestern University and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She worked for non-profit organizations for fifteen years.

“I am committed to excellence for all students of the Encinitas Union School District.”

Marlon Taylor
Elected to the Board in November, 2020
Current Term: 2024 - 2028
Email: marlon.taylor@eusd.net

Marlon Taylor, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, has made Encinitas his home since 2007. After dedicating two decades of his life to the U.S. Navy as a Cryptologist, he retired in 2010 as a Chief Petty Officer. During his illustrious service, he had the privilege of serving in various locations, including Japan, Scotland, Canada, and onboard three ships, as well as numerous shore assignments in San Diego.

After his remarkable Navy career, Marlon embarked on a journey of higher education at National University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management.

As a devoted father to two children, Marlon actively participates in their education and community life. He has served as a Room Parent and PTA Restaurant Night Coordinator, successfully raising over $8,000 for the Encinitas Educational Foundation at Flora Vista Elementary. Additionally, he has been a dedicated Board Member of his Homeowners Association for over six years, contributing to the community’s well-being. Furthermore, Marlon has shown his commitment to mentoring young athletes by volunteering as a basketball and soccer coach, guiding and inspiring them in their athletic pursuits.