Phil and his wife Lisa — a RN for Kaiser Permanente — have called Placer County home for two decades, raising their three children here. Two currently attend Roseville Joint Union High School District schools, with a third soon to follow, so Phil isn’t approaching this race as an outsider — he’s a dad who has been active in the community and wants the same things for RJUHSD that any parent in this district wants: strong academics, safe campuses, and schools that set kids up for whatever comes next.
And like every homeowner and longtime resident of Placer County, he knows that strong schools are what keep neighborhoods safe, property values strong, and this community a place people choose to raise a family— whether or not they have a child enrolled today.
That’s also been his life’s work. Phil has spent his career in education, from the classroom as a credentialed public-school teacher to senior academic leadership roles — including Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Dean of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, and Chair of Public Policy. He has advised governors, legislators, school board trustees, and superintendents on education policy, and served as legislative staff for the California School Boards Association, working directly with districts across the state to navigate state law, strengthen governance, and responsibly manage taxpayer dollars.
A school board trustee’s job isn’t to run the schools day-to-day — it’s to oversee the people who do: setting policy, managing the budget, and holding the district accountable to families and taxpayers. That’s exactly the work Phil has spent his career preparing for. With a law degree and years spent advising school boards on governance, state law, and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars, he’s built for the oversight seat — not just the classroom.
He holds a doctorate in education from USC, a law degree from Boston College, a master’s in teaching and curriculum from Harvard, and a bachelor’s from UC Berkeley — credentials he’s put to work making sure kids get the support they need to be college and career ready.
Outside of education, Phil has been active in his church, serving young adults, singles, and married couples, and has led a nonprofit focused on developing young leaders.
