The years during and following the pandemic have been exceptionally challenging for students, families, teachers and support personnel across the country and locally. Dr. Masumoto has been extremely active to address the complete disruption of school, high rates of absences, increased dependence on virtual education and technology and resulting social and mental health impacts on students. She is committed to work even harder to help students engage in learning to regain and build skills.
Dr. Masumoto has continued her focus on students to ensure they have multiple options to succeed, strong systems of support to improve academic achievement, college and career preparation, health and safety. She helped secure funding for student supports ranging from mental health services to in-home and specialized instruction, internet access for rural areas and early childhood education. See the news coverage of Masumoto’s support of AB2774 to secure added resources for African American students, the lowest performing subgroup academically across the state. Masumoto believes that all students deserve as much support as we can give them with accountability measures in place.
An Active Leader and Advocate
In her two terms on the Fresno County Board of Education, she acted on renewals and appeals of 
charter school petitions, student expulsions and inter district transfers; oversaw the budget for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and the financial and Local Control Action Plans for the court schools; and revised policies.
Together with the Superintendent and districts across the county, the board addressed critical health and mental health issues throughout the pandemic. Masumoto served as President and vice president of the board twice, and was also elected by the four county boards in the region to serve on the CA School Boards Association Delegate Assembly where she has been an active leader and advocate for valley students and schools.
A highlight of her first term on the Board was the growth of the new Career Technical Education Charter (CTEC) high school. The board approved funding for expansion of facilities including a new multipurpose room with ribbon cutting photo below.
Celebrating Student Achievements
Masumoto works hard to ensure students of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to shine, including special education students, incarcerated youth and those who do not “fit” in traditional schools. Celebrating large and small successes it an important part of learning!
In June 2022, CTEC graduated it’s first class of 54 students with the following results:
- 100% walked across the stage with college credit
Graduates’ motarboard hats flew after the 2026 CTEC graduation ceremony in Fresno - 90% with more than 35 college credits
- the majority of the class receiving their associates degree
- 100% participated in industry relevant internships. Out of those, 43% were offered employment by over 17 different companies, and 88% of those students accepted employment.
- 96% met the acceptance requirements for a 4 year university.
Masumoto participates in graduations at the Alice Worsley Court School, Violet Hines Academy, and promotions and graduations for county special education students, including Monte Vista School in Reedley (photo to right). She also attends graduations at many charter schools that the county board authorizes.
Staying Informed
To remain informed about issues facing schools across the area, she attends board meetings of many of the area’s 23 school districts, is an active leader in the Fresno County School District Trustees Association, and regularly interfaces with the community colleges and four-year universities in the region.
