Síndico, Area de Síndico 1 — Anaheim Elementary School District

As a lifelong resident of Anaheim, I attended all Anaheim schools including Palm Lane Elementary, Ball Junior High and Loara High School.  I've devoted my adult life to serving my community. My prior activities include serving 3 years as a PTA President, officer positions on numerous youth sports boards and I'm presently a Trustee for the school district which I attended as a child.  I have 2 children who both also attended Anaheim schools. I am a recipient of the Annie Accolade award, the PTA Golden Oak and an Honory Service award for my volunteer service to Anaheim.

Billie Joe Wright is an accomplished educator with a decade-long track record of innovation and leadership in career-technical education. A longtime resident of Trustee Area 1 and a homeowner in the Anaheim Colony Historic District, he has dedicated his life to helping students and families achieve their dreams by supporting the whole child.

Wright is an award-winning high school government and social sciences teacher who has faced our students’ challenges head-on as a department chair, AVID teacher, and school site representative. As his school’s California Democracy School Initiative coordinator, he brought his school the distinction of being one of only a handful of schools in the region selected for the program, in turn bringing needed resources to his students.

Before becoming a teacher, Wright held executive roles in sales, human resources, and general management in and out of the entertainment industry. He also served as the coordinator of AIDS Project Los Angeles’s Buddy Program. These experiences ground Wright, give him a unique perspective on responsible school district governance, and fuel his passion for preparing our students for higher education and employment.

Active in our local community, Wright currently serves as a commissioner on the City of Anaheim’s Budget, Investment & Technology Commission, and is a former governing board member of the Anaheim Community Center Authority. He has volunteered his time raising money for scholarships and providing critical services and after-school programs to Anaheim families.

Wright understands how important strong schools and neighborhoods are to the families of Trustee Area 1. As one of five children, Wright grew up in a multi-generational, bicultural, and bilingual home. As a child, he watched his parents advocate for a brother with a disability and his right to an equal education. His mother is a key role model, and his father was a Teamster for more than 30 years who taught Wright and his siblings the value of hard work and fairness.

A graduate of California State University Fullerton, Wright holds an M.S. in Education, a California Teaching Credential, and a B.A. in Political Science. He lives in the Anaheim Colony Historic District with his partner of 13 years, Mario Ortega.