About Chelsea
Education is integrally linked to every facet of life in our County. Strong schools are the foundation of thriving communities. In my service on the Board and in all of my community activities, I am dedicated to ensuring that we provide excellent, equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for all students in San Mateo County.
Chelsea Bonini was sworn into office in December of 2020 to serve as the San Mateo County Board of Education’s Area 4 Trustee following a term on the San Mateo-Foster City School District Board of Trustees (2013-2017) and her service to the San Mateo County Office of Education as a Personnel Commissioner (2018-2020).
Chelsea currently serves as Board President and Chair of the Board of Education's Legislative Subcommittee, Policy Subcommittee. Superintendent's Salary Subcommittee, and Gateway Subcommittee. Chelsea also serves as the County Board’s representative on the San Mateo County School Boards Association’s (SMCSBA) Executive Board.
Chelsea served on the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities and the San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission, as well as serving as a liaison to the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission (JJDPC) on behalf of the Commission on Disabilities, through December 2023.
Chelsea is a passionate advocate for education, housing, mental health awareness, literacy of all, disability rights and inclusive communities. The pillars of Trustee Bonini's work are #Opportunity #Inclusion and #Accountability, and her dedication to raising awareness of and eradicating the longstanding impacts of oppression of marginalized communities in our schools and communities define her work.
Chelsea is a proud alumna of Russell Sage College, graduating Magna Cum Laude and holding a dual B.S. in Elementary Education and Psychology, as well as U.C. Hastings College of Law, where she was elected to serve as Editor in Chief of her law journal and had the honor of serving in two judicial externship positions, one at the U.S. District Court and the other at the California Court of Appeals. Chelsea has been practicing law for more than two decades.
In recent years, Chelsea has served as an Adjunct Law Professor with Santa Clara University's Entrepreneurs Law Clinic, and now she has returned to school herself to earn her M.A. in Education Administration and Leadership as well as her Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC), which she will complete by the end of 2024.
Chelsea is currently teaching 2nd Grade for the 2024-25 school year in Los Altos and formerly taught kindergarten and first grade teacher in the South San Francisco Unified School District. She has also been a lead docent for the Art in Action program since 2009, teaching in multiple San Mateo-Foster City School District schools.
Chelsea is the founder of Not Without Us and the California Education Association, and through these nonprofit organizations, Chelsea has been dedicated to raising awareness about disabilities rights and the importance of educational leadership, mentoring education leaders and candidates for public office, and changing education and related policies & practices locally and statewide to ensure that all children have equitable and accessible opportunities and support systems be successful in school and in life.
Chelsea lives in San Mateo with her husband Matt and their two boys.
Chelsea Bonini was sworn into office in December of 2020 to serve as the San Mateo County Board of Education’s Area 4 Trustee following a term on the San Mateo-Foster City School District Board of Trustees (2013-2017) and her service to the San Mateo County Office of Education as a Personnel Commissioner (2018-2020).
Chelsea currently serves as Board President and Chair of the Board of Education's Legislative Subcommittee, Policy Subcommittee. Superintendent's Salary Subcommittee, and Gateway Subcommittee. Chelsea also serves as the County Board’s representative on the San Mateo County School Boards Association’s (SMCSBA) Executive Board.
Chelsea served on the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities and the San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission, as well as serving as a liaison to the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission (JJDPC) on behalf of the Commission on Disabilities, through December 2023.
Chelsea is a passionate advocate for education, housing, mental health awareness, literacy of all, disability rights and inclusive communities. The pillars of Trustee Bonini's work are #Opportunity #Inclusion and #Accountability, and her dedication to raising awareness of and eradicating the longstanding impacts of oppression of marginalized communities in our schools and communities define her work.
Chelsea is a proud alumna of Russell Sage College, graduating Magna Cum Laude and holding a dual B.S. in Elementary Education and Psychology, as well as U.C. Hastings College of Law, where she was elected to serve as Editor in Chief of her law journal and had the honor of serving in two judicial externship positions, one at the U.S. District Court and the other at the California Court of Appeals. Chelsea has been practicing law for more than two decades.
In recent years, Chelsea has served as an Adjunct Law Professor with Santa Clara University's Entrepreneurs Law Clinic, and now she has returned to school herself to earn her M.A. in Education Administration and Leadership as well as her Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC), which she will complete by the end of 2024.
Chelsea is currently teaching 2nd Grade for the 2024-25 school year in Los Altos and formerly taught kindergarten and first grade teacher in the South San Francisco Unified School District. She has also been a lead docent for the Art in Action program since 2009, teaching in multiple San Mateo-Foster City School District schools.
Chelsea is the founder of Not Without Us and the California Education Association, and through these nonprofit organizations, Chelsea has been dedicated to raising awareness about disabilities rights and the importance of educational leadership, mentoring education leaders and candidates for public office, and changing education and related policies & practices locally and statewide to ensure that all children have equitable and accessible opportunities and support systems be successful in school and in life.
Chelsea lives in San Mateo with her husband Matt and their two boys.
"Chelsea has been and continues to be a warrior for children and their education. She is bright, hard working and has high standards. Chelsea was a terrific School Board Trustee for the San Mateo-Foster City School District, and she continues to put your children first as a Trustee for the San Mateo County Board of Education." Delaine Eastin, Former California State Superintendent of Schools, California Assemblywoman & Gubernatorial Candidate
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"Chelsea has been a tireless leader and advocate for kids in San Mateo County. As an educator, a School Board trustee, a County commissioner, an attorney and an always active volunteer, her passion and dedication for building relationships, improving community-school connections and advocating for systems that champion the success of all kids is unparalleled." David Canepa, President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Representing District 5
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