Local 911 Emergency Dispatcher Appointed to Stanislaus Union School Board

(Modesto, CA) – Modesto resident and police/fire 911 dispatcher John Casselberry, Jr. has been appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Stanislaus Union School District Governing Board representing Area 5. Casselberry was appointed after stepping up to serve the 3,450 students and families of Modesto’s premier K-8 school district of choice. He currently works full time as a police and fire dispatch supervisor and has been in public service since finishing his undergraduate education nearly a decade ago.

As no candidate filed to run in the 2022 general election for the open seat, Governing Board Member Casselberry was appointed and will serve the full four year term ending in December 2026.

“I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve our community and our local students in this new role. I will bring my enthusiasm and dedication to our phenomenal public schools,” Casselberry stated. “As a product of public schools myself, nothing is more important to the future of our city than the well-rounded education of our students. Growing up, public service was impressed upon me by my teachers, that’s why I got involved where I could from student government to local nonprofits. I owe countless lessons and opportunities to the patience and perseverance of great teachers and my supportive parents – and I want to help where I can do the same for kids in Modesto. Everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential and that starts with a good education.

“I purchased my first home in our neighborhood in large part due to our great local K-8 schools. I have fallen in love with this community and have never felt more welcome in any other community than I have here in Modesto. I look forward to starting and raising my family here. Whether its newcomers to Modesto or life-long Valley residents, I promise to never stop trying to make Stanislaus Union the very best we can be.”

"Since I met John when he first moved to Modesto, I have been excited to see his passion and interest in serving our community,” Councilmember Chris Ricci, who represents District 3 on the Modesto City Council, said. “I'm excited to have a partner on one of our local school boards that I know will always put our students and community first. I look forward to working with John and finding ways to collaborate to serve our community. Parents, students, and teachers of northwest Modesto are lucky to have such a dedicated public servant on the Stanislaus Union board."

John has served on civic organizations prior to relocating to Modesto, including a term on the Simi Valley Planning Commission, Simi Valley Youth Council and on the Simi Valley Neighborhood Council #4 Executive Board, where he served as a link between local neighbors and city hall. He also spent time on the Board of Directors of Kids and Families Together, a non-profit dedicated to providing services and improving the quality life of foster, adoptive, and kinship families in his hometown.

John Casselberry, Jr. is a 30 year resident of California, graduating from Simi Valley High School in Southern California. Afterwards, he attended John Cabot University in Rome, Italy where he earned his B.A. in International Affairs and History. He currently lives in Modesto and works as a police and fire dispatch supervisor for a local law enforcement and fire agency. John enjoys spending his free time traveling the country on road trips and has been exploring local businesses in Modesto, enjoying the best of what Modesto has to offer.