Honoring Decades of Dedication: RCSD Bids Farewell to Long-Serving Trustees Alisa MacAvoy and Janet Lawson

Serving Redwood City School District (RCSD) for more than 25 years combined, two long-time Board of Trustee members will be retiring from service on the Board. Their commitment to excellence in education is commendable and has shone through along each step and decision. 

Trustee Alisa MacAvoy

Alisa MacAvoy, first elected in 2007, will have served 17 years when she makes her departure. She has served as Board president three times, as members rotate once every five years into the position. 

She said that she has valued education from an early age, her father a community college teacher and her mother having served on her local elementary school board. When MacAvoy’s own children began attending school at RCSD, she felt a call to serve as a classroom and school volunteer, but knew she wanted to help more students within the community. 

“I quickly realized that I could have more of an impact as a school board Trustee since I cared about each and every child in our community,” she said. “I have worked hard to ensure that each student has access to a high quality, inspiring, and joyful education and that our families and staff are supported along the way.”

There have been many memorable moments in the past 17 years, MacAvoy said, including visiting classrooms, eighth grade graduations, and reclassification ceremonies for multilingual learners. 

“These students have a super power because they now know academic English and at least one other language which will help them be successful in life,” she said. “The students and their families are so excited with this huge accomplishment.” 

Another highlight, MacAvoy added, has been the successful passing of ballot measures during her time on the Board, specifically Measure T, which brought school facility upgrades like outdoor learning environments, additional classrooms, library improvements, and more. 

“Our students and staff deserve high quality learning environments and we must move our school district to be climate ready,” MacAvoy stated. “I am looking forward to more facility upgrades including cooling classrooms and playgrounds with the Measure S bond.”

Trustee Janet Lawson

Janet Lawson, elected in 2015 and having served two terms as president, will also be retiring from the Board. Lawson is an RCSD alumni herself and was inspired to serve on the Board when her own three children were in lower elementary school. 

At that time, there were no other Board members with students currently enrolled in RCSD and she said she knew she could make a valuable impact as a parent voice. 

“I knew I wanted to invest my time and energy into the district,” she said. “I knew I could and would do so with an equity focus.” 

Lawson said she is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served on the Board, even when tough decisions had to be made.

“It has been an absolute honor to serve as a Trustee for the Redwood City School District.,” she said. “I am reminded every day that the community has entrusted me with the responsibility of governing the District. It is not lost on me what an incredible responsibility that is, and for that, I am grateful.” 

In nearly a decade of service, there have been many amazing moments, Lawson said, adding that invitations to attend student ceremonies such as reclassification, graduation, and promotion has been the honor of a lifetime that she holds dear to her heart. 

“I am so incredibly proud of these students for their accomplishments, and proud of their families who have guided them to these milestones.,” she said. “As a parent myself, I know how much goes into shepherding kiddos through these years. I have cried tears of joy at every single one of these events in my nine years on the board! There is so much hope and possibility for our students as they continue to grow and learn. I continue to be excited for the people they will grow into and the things they will accomplish.” 

As Lawson and MacAvoy retire, two new community members will join the School Board. Jennifer Ng Kwing King, a parent in the Mandarin Immersion Program at Orion Alternative, will represent Area I while education policy fellow David Li is the new Trustee for Area III. They join David Weekly, Area II Trustee; Cecilia Márquez, Area V Trustee; and Mike Wells, Area IV Trustee.