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Brea Olinda Unified board appoints a district parent to fill vacant seat

April 22, 2026

A parent of two district students has been tapped by the Brea Olinda Unified school board to fill a vacant seat.

Natalie Johnson was appointed Monday night, April 20, by board members to fill the Area 4 trustee seat after it was declared vacant in March. The school board interviewed four interested applicants.

“Natalie’s thoughtful approach, firsthand experience as a BOUSD parent, and clear understanding of the complexities facing our district made her a strong candidate for this role,” board President Carrie Flanders said in a statement. “We are confident that she will be a dedicated advocate for students, families, and the broader BOUSD community.”

Chris Becerra, elected to the seat in 2022, had been absent from three consecutive months of meetings following his arrest by Brea police in December, which state law says can be considered as having vacated the seat.

Becerra faces two felony counts of contacting a minor with intent to commit a specified offense, along with misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a person believed to be a child and attempting to induce false testimony. Prosecutors allege he sent two teenage boys messages calling them sexy and asking for photos.

Becerra’s attorney has said he is not guilty, but “instead, the charges are based on disputed online communications that must be evaluated by neutral decision-makers.”

Johnson, whose first meeting as a trustee will be Thursday, April 23, will serve the remainder of Becerra’s term until November, when the seat will be on the ballot. She works as an assistant director with a public charter school, overseeing special education.

Johnson, who earned her master’s degree in elementary education from Biola University, has been part of Laurel Elementary’s School Site Council for the last three years and served as a PTO Special Education representative for the past five years, according to a district press release.

“I’m excited to bring a parent perspective and a community perspective to this role,” Johnson said in a BOUSD social media post. “But ultimately, I’m here simply to serve. That’s the only reason I’m here — to serve.”

Orange County Register

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Brea Olinda Unified board appoints a district parent to fill vacant seat

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