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Cristina Gutierrez, Board Chair

Cristina Gutierrez joined The Academies CMO board of directors in March of 2021. Originally from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, she earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Merced. Ms. Gutierrez moved to Visalia in 2014 working in healthcare Marketing and Communications. Ms. Gutierrez is currently the Public Information Officer for Visalia Unified School District.

 

Mary Aceves, Board Vice Chair

Mary Aceves brings a wealth of experience from the business sector to the Academies Board of Directors. Her professional career comprises over 12 years of experience working within the Food and Beverage Industry, specifically in; Sales, Supply Chain, Continuous Improvement, and Information Technology. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business/Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University.

 

Ms. Aceves is a first-generation, Mexican-American, woman who was born and raised in Tulare, CA. Her parents immigrated from Mexico to the United States and settled in Tulare to raise a family of 10. Mary is fluent in Spanish and English, loves Mexican cuisine, music and art. She is proud to represent her Hispanic heritage both professionally and personally. 

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Mary attributes her drive for success and heart for others directly from the example set by her parents. She is passionate about giving back by contributing to the community in which she has grown up by and positively impacting the lives of the people she encounters. Mary resides in Tulare with her husband and four children who attend Sycamore Valley Academy.

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Alex Tietjen, Board Secretary

Alex Tietjen is a Visalia native. He was educated in Visalia public schools before attending the University of California, Santa Barbara where he earned a BA in History in 2006. After graduation, he interned for a year at SCICON, the outdoor school operated by the Tulare County Office of Education, as an Outdoor Educator and this experience sparked his love of education. 

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In 2010 Alex began working for the Burton School District as a middle school social science teacher. In 2013 he transitioned into a role supporting teacher’s use of technology with their students. As the one-to-one technology initiative grew in the district, Alex moved into a position overseeing the entire academic technology program. Before moving to the private sector, he served as Director of Technology for Burton schools, overseeing all aspects of technology use. In that time Alex earned an MS in Education with a focus on educational technology and a Doctorate in Education (EdD) from Johns Hopkins University. 

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Alex is excited to serve on the Board of The Academies, where he can contribute his experience and knowledge of education to make a positive impact on the lives of students in our community. He lives in Visalia with his wife and two young daughters.

 

Marilou Monsivais, Treasurer

Marilou Monsivais joined The Academies Board of Directors in March of 2021. She looks forward to learning from everyone around her but is especially eager to contribute her knowledge in accounting and share her passion for education.

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Mrs. Monsivais moved from Los Angeles to Visalia when she was 7 years old and truly enjoyed growing up in the Central Valley. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an option in Accountancy from California State University, Fresno. She is a certified public accountant (CPA) and is a partner at Pine, Pedroncelli, and Aguilar, Inc., a public accounting firm with offices in Visalia and Porterville.

 

Marilou is married, has a daughter, and 2 dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and hiking new trails but especially loves traveling with her husband and visiting their daughter in college.

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Craig Wheaton, Member-at-Large

Mr. Wheaton moved to the Central Valley to take a position in Corcoran as a high school counselor and continuation high school teacher. He later served as a high school assistant principal, and then as an elementary school principal for 11 years. After 24 years in Corcoran, Wheaton moved to Visalia Unified, where his first job called for him to oversee state and federal projects. He later served as an area administrator, and then as superintendent beginning July 2010. He wrapped up his tenure as VUSD Superintendent and joined the Tulare County Office of Education in 2015.

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Craig attended American River College and later Sacramento State University to earn his bachelor’s degree. He then earned a master’s degree from San Francisco State University and later earned a doctoral degree from Pepperdine University.

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When not working tirelessly for the children of Tulare County, Craig can be found outdoors.  While his days of running marathons are behind him, he continues his lifelong habit of daily exercise. Wheaton enjoys strenuous wilderness hikes, pre-dawn jogs, skiing, and mountain biking. As an educator for more than 40 years, Wheaton is no stranger to encouraging students and co-workers to set academic goals and make plans to achieve them. Keeping in shape is no different, he says. It is simply part of everyday life. He offers this advice to those seeking to add more to their lives: set a goal and pace yourself. Craig credits his disciplined rural upbringing on a chicken farm in the Sierra Nevada foothills for his work ethic, his teacher-mother for his love of learning, and the Boy Scouts for his love of the outdoors. He has served on the TACMO Board, beginning as the TCOE representative, since February 2017.

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Sheridyn Riddington Blain, Member-at-Large

Sheridyn Riddington Blain is a Visalia native with deep ties to Central Valley agriculture.  She is married to a third generation walnut grower and has spent her career in various agricultural  businesses including farming, food processing, retail, and accounting.  She currently works in private practice as a grower accountant. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, movie-nights with her husband, and hanging out with her two daughters and their crazy cat.

 

Sheridyn has been a passionate supporter of The Academies since its inception.  Her youngest child is enrolled in Blue Oak Academy and her eldest child was part of the first graduating class at BOA.  She has enjoyed witnessing the amazing progress Blue Oak has made since its doors opened in 2017.  She is also a founding member of The Academies Parent Teacher Organization and currently serves as President of the BOA PTO.  Mrs. Blain joined The Academies Board of Directors in August 2024. 

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Omar Faris, Member-at-Large

Omar Faris is a Senior Advisor with Southern California Edison's Government and Institutions segment where he supports the United States Department of Defense and other federal agencies with strategic energy guidance. Over his career, Omar has built a reputation for translating complex utility processes into clear, actionable plans for customers, blending technical analysis with stakeholder communication to advance critical infrastructure and cost‑optimization initiatives. He brings a strong academic foundation to his work, holding a B.S. in Business Management from Fresno State and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University. 

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Beyond the office, Omar is a devoted husband and father of two children, both students at Sycamore Valley Academy, whose schedules and milestones he prioritizes alongside a demanding workload. He is also deeply involved in his community as a volunteer football coach and a dedicated swim parent investing his time in youth development and teamwork. As a lifelong Visalia resident, he has a vested interest in developing and cultivating local learners, empowering them to grow into confident, capable contributors within their communities. His approach to governance on The Academies Board of Directors is grounded in the principles of servant leadership, ensuring that he leads by example and prioritizes the growth and well‑being of the TACMO student population.

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