Trustee Area #5
Term: 2022-2026
sruiz@banning.k12.ca.us

 Shelly Ruiz grew up in Banning, attending school from Kindergarten to 12th grade. She had incredible teachers that fostered her love for learning and challenged her to think from other people’s point of view. She is proud to be from Banning.

After high school Ruiz attended UC Riverside obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She started teaching after graduation while working towards her teaching credential at Cal State San Bernardino and then continued on to earn her Master’s in Reading. 

Ruiz moved back to Banning to raise her daughter in the town that will always be home.   As a Trustee she will bring her experience in teaching and her love for this town to support the students and their families. 

Trustee Area #2
Term: 2024 - 2028
manguiano@banning.k12.ca.us

Mayra Anguiano was born and raised in the City of Banning, and is a product of Banning Unified School District. She was instilled at a young age the importance of education and the impact that it can make when serving others.

As a first-generation college student, she attended the University of California San Diego and obtained a B.S in Psychology. She furthered her education at Loma Linda University with a Master of Science as a Child Life Specialist. Her background in child development led her to work in the hospital settings and in case management, serving pediatric patients and their families.

Her desire to become a Board of Trustee for Banning USD occurred when her children began their educational experience within the District. As a member of the Board of Trustees, her goal is to advocate for the students and their families ensuring that they are provided the best education and services possible.

Trustee Area #1
Term: 2022-2026
lnovalis@banning.k12.ca.us 

Leslie Novalis joined the Banning Unified School District Board of Trustees in December of 2022.  Prior to retiring and moving to Banning in 2016, Ms. Novalis taught in Pico Rivera Unified School District in both elementary and middle school for 18 years.  During that time, she was involved with various programs including Project-Based Learning, Academic Decathlon, the Green Club, and a Spanish program for the STEAM Academy, to name a few. 

Prior to teaching, she worked for twelve years in various capacities as a business woman in both real estate development and medical office management. 

 Ms. Novalis received her undergraduate degree in Spanish with a minor in real estate finance and urban development from the University of Arizona, and her graduate work in education at the University of Denver. 

Since moving to Banning, she has worked for Carol’s Kitchen before and during the pandemic delivering food to shut-in seniors in Sun Lakes, and has been a Sunday school teacher at her local church.  She is excited to partner with students, parents, teachers, the District and the community to help students reach their full educational and social potential. 

Trustee Area #3
Term: 2024 - 2028
ltroutman@banning.k12.ca.us 

While Laura Troutman comes from a long line of educators, she is the first to serve on a board of school trustees. She has been a member of the Banning Unified board since 2019.  Troutman’s maternal grandfather worked as a school principal, while her maternal grandmother taught Head Start. Her husband is a dual enrollment teacher at the high school with a master’s degree in government, and his parents volunteered for years in Banning schools. 

Troutman is currently furthering her education by taking prerequisite courses at Mt. San Jacinto College in Menifee to become a registered nurse. Throughout her life, she has always felt a desire to help people. She is fulfilling this lifelong mission through her service to the District and board. 

Trustee Area #4
Term: 2024 - 2028
lmlara@banning.k12.ca.us

In her role as a trustee, Lucy Martinez-Lara seeks to create closer ties between parents and teachers. She believes that doing so will create better paths for students to achieve academic success.

Martinez-Lara grew up in the community and attended the Banning Unified School District. She was inspired by many of her teachers, including a math instructor who challenged her students in creative ways.

Martinez-Lara plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College to earn an associate’s degree and then study to become a registered nurse.

Trustee Area #4
Term: 2024 - 2025 School Year

Brian Calderon is a student at Banning High School in his senior year. He wants to ensure that the student voice is heard.