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Leah Ersoylu is running to serve a second term as the Newport Mesa Unified School District Trustee, Area 1. She has a passion and commitment to help all students learn, explore, and thrive. As the Area 1 Trustee she has been instrumental in ensuring academic excellence for all children, revamping the facilities and infrastructure priorities and ensuring fiscal responsibility. 

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Her accomplishments include doubling the electives offered at TeWinkle Middle School, ensuring that the Estancia Theater could be built while also preserving the historic 1-acre Estancia Lawn. Under her tenure, Estancia High School was awarded a California Distinguished Schools recognition, as the only secondary school in our district with recent multiple years of SBAC growth. She continually votes to support educational achievement in various ways such as: streamlining the mathematics curriculum, ensuring children at all schools can attend 6th grade science camp, investing in a strong TK program that focuses on early literacy.

 

She continually shares research and innovations in restorative justice and positive behavior practices to staff in order to keep our kids safe on campus and is an advocate for increased training for staff around the importance of increased understanding of behavioral and mental health issues. She authored the Board Resolution (passed unanimously with bi-partisan support from her fellow trustees) urging the City of Costa Mesa to consider the distance to school and youth center locations and when awarding cannabis permits. She has also voted to support innovations in the security technology and cameras on campuses, as well as increasing security officers. 

 

Leah is a problem solver and a natural consensus-builder.  As the mother of a child who has attended NMUSD schools, she is an engaged parent. Professionally, she is a researcher and policy analyst by training and believes data should drive decision-making—especially in education.  She has dedicated her career to supporting youth development, education, and health organizations by designing impactful programs. 

 

Engaged Parent

She has participated in the Newport Mesa Unified School Human Relations Task Force (HRTF), District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), and District Wellness Committee. She has been a basketball coach and supported her daughter's Girl Scout troop when duty calls! 

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Business Owner

Since 2007, Leah has been the President of Ersoylu Consulting, a small business helping nonprofit organizations and foundations. Throughout her career, she has focused on ensuring social and educational programs meet the needs of children and families in cost-effective and innovative ways.  She has served multi-million dollar public agencies and foundations, analyzing the correct resourcing of programs to maximize their impact.  

 

Educator

She earned her PhD in Political Science with a focus on Public Policy from the University of California, Irvine and her BA in Resource Economics from the University of New Hampshire. As an educator, she has taught at UCI, CSULB, and Chapman University. She has also trained hundreds of organizations in research, policy advocacy, and community engagement.  She regularly conducts pro-bono trainings for nonprofit executives at OneOC, a nonprofit capacity building center. 

 

Public Servant

Leah has a strong track record of serving her community.  In addition to serving on the NMUSD Board since 2020, she has also served Orange County as a Children and Families Commissioner, ensuring our children 0-5 can thrive. 

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As a resident of the City of Costa Mesa for 20 years, she has served as an appointee to several positions, where she brought her passion for data and accountability:

• Parks & Recreation Commission

• Walkability and Bike Committee

• Housing and Public Services Grants Committee

 

Community Volunteer

Leah has a long history of community service. She has volunteered at Think Together as a tutor and as a Board member on the St. Joseph Health Community Partnership Fund.  She has also spent her time as: 

• Youth Basketball Coach

• Strategic Advisory Committee Member, Community Health Initiative of Orange County's  (CHIOC)

• Member of Costa Mesa Early Childhood Coalition (CM ECC)