Board Member Bios

Trustee Area No.1

Liz Phillips was elected to the Orcutt Union School District Board of Trustees during the 2012-2013 school year. She was born and raised in New York and moved to California in 1974. Liz graduated from Long Beach State University with a major in Social Work and continued her education at Loyola Marymount University with a major in Counseling Psychology. She is married to Greg and has two children, Katlin, and Matt, who attended schools in the Orcutt Union School District.  

Liz was first introduced to the Orcutt Union School District as a parent/volunteer in the classroom. Her involvement increased when she became the PTA president for Joe Nightingale School for two years. She enjoyed her involvement with PTA so much that she then became the vice-president of the Lakeview Junior High PTSA. Liz was hired as a Title I teacher at Joe Nightingale and worked closely with the classroom teacher providing support to the students. That role eventually led to becoming a substitute teacher in the district and allowed her to experience the different school sites and become familiar with the students, staff, and community.  

"Both my children and I have experienced an amazing educational experience in the Orcutt Union School District. I want to ensure the best educational experience for the students, staff, parents, and community. I work hard to continue the high quality of student success to the district. I believe in the district's mission of "Kids Comes First."  

Liz worked for Allan Hancock Community College as the Coordinator, Recruitment Services and retired in 2021. She continues to serve the district and community and enjoys her role in the educational field as a Board Trustee.

Trustee Area No.2

April Huckabey is a newly elected Trustee for the Orcutt Union School District, beginning her term in December 2024. A proud Orcutt native, April grew up and completed her education in the OUSD before moving to the Seattle area in 1993. After two decades away, she returned to Orcutt in 2014. She is a parent to a blended family of 5 boys, with one son currently attending Orcutt Academy High School.

April co-owns Santa Maria Valley Small Engine Repair with her husband, Chris, and is the founder of Neurofighters, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with neurological conditions through exercise and well-being. She also serves as President of the Central Coast Parkinson Association and has an extensive history of involvement on local boards and committees in Orcutt and Santa Maria.

As a School Board Trustee, April is committed to supporting teachers, students, and parents, while working collaboratively with staff and administrators to meet the needs of the students, district, and the community. She prioritizes creating a school environment where students feel valued, enjoy learning, and develop critical thinking skills to contribute meaningfully to society. April is also focused on ensuring fiscal responsibility in light of the state’s budget challenges. 

In her free time, April enjoys staying active, going to the gym with her husband, and spending quality time with family and friends. She is passionate about giving back to her community and often volunteers with local nonprofits throughout the year that benefit children.
 

Trustee Area No.3

Mark Steller is a newly elected member to the Orcutt Union School District Board of Trustees in this past November election of 2018.  Mark has thirty-seven years’ management experience; twenty-three with Longs Drug Stores and fourteen as owner-operator of Old Town Market here in Old Orcutt.  Mark is deeply involved in the local community where he serves as President of the Orcutt Merchants Association and on the boards of many other community organizations including the Orcutt Christmas Parade and SOAAR.  Mark believes that children are our nation’s future and that it is the responsibility of the entire community to make sure kids get a quality education in both academics and career enrichment.

Mark and his wife Wendy have been married for twenty-nine years and have four adult children, all graduates of Orcutt schools as is Mr. Steller.  Mark has received special recognition as one of the top eighty graduates of Allan Hancock College and was awarded Northern Santa Barbara County Businessman of the year in 2014 by the California Assembly and the U. S. House of Representatives.

Trustee Area No.4 – Board President

Melanie has lived in Orcutt most of her life and is raising her family in the community with her husband. Her children have attended Orcutt schools, and she is a proud graduate of Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration, is a SHRM-certified Human Resources professional, and works in Human Resources for Community Health Centers of the Central Coast.

Melanie was elected to the Orcutt Union School District Board of Trustees in 2018 and currently serves as Board President. She also represents Santa Barbara County as a Delegate to the California School Boards Association and volunteers with local organizations and school and community programs.

Melanie believes strong schools are built by people who care deeply about students and the community they serve. She values kindness, empathy, responsibility, and giving students opportunities to discover what they are capable of. Above all, she wants Orcutt schools to be places where students feel supported, challenged, and proud to belong.

Trustee Area No.5

Shaun Henderson is serving his second term and was first elected to the Orcutt Union School District during the 2018-2019 school year. He was born and raised in Torrance, California. He moved to Santa Maria in 1993 as the Store Manager of Montgomery Ward and finished working there after 21 years in retail management. He then owned his own business for three years before transitioning to Wells Fargo where he worked for over 21 years in many business capacities. His last position with Wells Fargo was Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager in Merchant Services. Currently he works in the Purchasing Department at Chumash Casino. He is married to his wife Tiffany and they have two sons and a daughter who all attended schools in the Orcutt Union School District.

Shaun is actively involved in the community having served on numerous non-profit boards, an active member at his local church and also coached his children in numerous sports in the community for over 20 years. Shaun believes his children have received a quality education and have enjoyed their time in this school district. He continues to believe in the mission of the school district where Kids Come First. He also wants to work together with this school board to find additional ways for our school district to excel for many years to come.