Schools

Jean McHatton to Fill Vacancy on Cerritos College Board

The seat left vacant by the death of Bob Epple has been appointed to longtime educator Jean McHatton.

The Cerritos College Board of Trustees voted Thursday to appoint retired school administrator Jean McHatton to the seat left vacant by the death of Bob Epple.

Epple, who had been a Board of Trustee member at Cerritos College since 1981, and served on the State Assembly from 1988 to 1994, died on April 13 after a long battle with leukemia.

Three of the nine candidates to replace Epple were interviewed at the regular board meeting on Wednesday. McHatton was selected after a vote of the board, who heard from two other applicants -- Lisa Rapp and Carmen Avalos -- for the empty seat.

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McHatton, a Cerritos resident, is a retired director of curriculum at Whittier Union High School District. In her presentation at the meeting, she said that student success is her priority. She also pointed out that her 41 years of experience as an educator and her passion for education would be an asset to the board.

McHatton has a long history with Cerritos College. She has served on the college's Foundation Board since 1999 and the Cerritos College Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee since 2004. She also served on the college's Presidential Search Committee in 2009.

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Board Vice President Bob Arthur said McHatton impressed the board with her expertise in education and her long-standing relationship with Cerritos College as a strong community advocate.

McHatton will be sworn in at the June 15 board meeting and will serve the remainder of the term which ends in 2012.


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