A Champion For Yakima Families: Graciela Villanueva’s Leadership Legacy (Photo) - 11/03/25

A Champion for Yakima Families: Graciela Villanueva’s Leadership Legacy

By Trevor Greene | Superintendent, Yakima School District

Yakima, WA — The Yakima School District and the broader Yakima Valley community will honor the service and leadership of Graciela Villanueva on November 5, 2025, 4:00 pm, at Lewis & Clark Middle School. Villanueva, who is stepping down after more than a decade of service as a director on the Yakima School Board, currently serves as Vice President of the Board and represents Position 1.  She leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, compassion, and unwavering commitment to student success.

Originally appointed in 2011 and subsequently elected to three terms, Villanueva helped guide the Yakima School District through years of transformation. During her tenure, the district established dual language programming, expanded mental health supports, increased graduation rates, and earned numerous awards — including four Board of Distinction honors and the current Large District School Board of the Year for the state of Washington.

"Graciela has been a powerful voice for equity and opportunity," said Superintendent Dr. Trevor Greene. "Her lived experience, deep understanding of organizational leadership, HR background, and tireless belief in students helped shape a culture where putting kids first isn’t just a phrase — it’s policy."

Villanueva is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, one of the region’s largest community health organizations. Her professional work mirrors her public service: creating pathways to opportunity for underserved communities, advancing inclusive practices, and mentoring the next generation of Yakima leaders.

Raised in the Yakima Valley and a graduate of Heritage University and Washington State University, Villanueva has long described herself as “a product of the very systems she now works to improve.” In an interview with Hispanic Executive magazine, she reflected on her commitment to addressing the barriers her own family experienced. “It’s not just about policy,” she said. “It’s about purpose. And people.”

Throughout her board service, Villanueva helped prioritize legislative advocacy, championing state-level efforts to expand Local Effort Assistance and close funding gaps for communities like Yakima. She worked closely with fellow board members, elected officials, and community groups to ensure Yakima’s voice was heard in Olympia.

She also served as a visible role model for young Latinas in the Yakima Valley. “Representation matters,” said Board President Ryan Beckett. “Graciela didn’t just lead — she inspired. Our students saw someone who looked like them, who came from the greater Yakima community, and who never stopped fighting for their future.”

Villanueva’s final months on the board were marked by continued progress — and celebration. This fall, the Board received its fourth Board of Distinction award in five years, recognized by the Washington State School Directors’ Association for its “visionary leadership and deep commitment to educational equity.”

Reflecting on her service, Villanueva said she is proud of the work the board accomplished — and optimistic about what lies ahead. “Serving the students and families of Yakima has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” she said. “I’ll continue to be their advocate — just from a different seat.”