- Proven leader with track record of creating impact for nonprofit organizations
- Demonstrated ability to nurture public-private partnerships and manage complex initiatives
- Mission-driven advocate elected three times to San Francisco’s Board of Education.
Rachel began her career as a journalist, working at The New York Times, Reuters, and CNET:The Computer Network. In 1996, she created the Visual Journalism course at U.C. Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, which she co-taught for two semesters. After a number of years working as a communications consultant, Rachel joined the San Francisco Parks Alliance in 2013 as Director of Communications, rising to Director of External Affairs and serving as interim CEO for eight months. In 2017 she was named Executive Director of the California State Parks Foundation, an independent, member-supported nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving California’s state park system for the benefit of all.
Rachel has also served her community as a volunteer and elected official. In 2008 she was elected to the San Francisco Unified Board of Education and re-elected in 2012 and 2016. Rachel also served four years on San Francisco’s Democratic County Central Committee, elected to represent Assembly District 19 in March of 2016.
Previously, Rachel served as co-chair of the Site Council at Argonne Year-Round Elementary School and as a classroom volunteer. She served on the SFUSD Community Advisory Committee for Special Education between 2005 and 2008, and has been an active member of Parents for Public Schools – San Francisco (PPS-SF) since 2001. She volunteered for the Autism Speaks Bay Area Advocacy Committee between 2006 and 2008, working to secure health insurance coverage for kids with autism (in 2012, the California legislature finally passed insurance coverage for speech therapy, occupational therapy and behavioral treatment for autism spectrum disorders). In June 2008, Rachel graduated from the Emerge California program, which helps Democratic women gain the political skills they need to run for public office.
A product of California public schools, Rachel was born and raised in Berkeley, Calif., and graduated from Berkeley High School. She has a degree in English from Barnard College. Rachel lives with her two daughters in San Francisco’s Richmond district.
Rachel Norton 
Hey Rachel,
You should link this to your website as well. Story plus video:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6013884
Congratulations Rachel – Wish you we had access someone like you here in Miami
Thank you! Regarding GATE, I agree with you – there is really not much going on at the elementary school level. There are a couple of really dynamic PPS members who are engaging with the SFUSD GATE coordinator on these issues and if you email me privately I can put you in touch with them. What I would love to see is a plan put together for how we could improve our ES offerings for high-potential students, and then perhaps go to the Prop H money next year to fund a pilot or modest district-wide project. Of course money is part of the problem — but another piece is that there hasn’t (to my knowledge) been a lot of thinking done about what an elementary-level program for gifted students should look like. That planning has to come first before we look at more funding.
On the science question, I have been very impressed with the new K-5 FOSS curriculum the district has implemented this year. It is very hands-on and very comprehensive. Every elementary school should have implemented this curriculum this year, so if you are not seeing it at your school yet, talk to your principal. I think it has been fairly intense for the teachers to absorb and fully digest, so we may not see the full benefits of the new curriculum until next year.
Rachel,
I have enjoyed reading your informed and well-articulated arguments on sfschools and am happy to see that you are a candidate for BOE. I have a few questions for you. I was wondering how you view GATE. IMO, the GATE program seems woefully underfunded and practically nonexistant in SFUSD ESs. Is this an area where you think there should be additional resources, or should the priority continue to be on the bringing the lowest-performing students up to minimum standards? Also, as a scientist, I am concerned that our students’ exposure science (in addition to art, music, P.E. and social studies) is inadequate due to the emphasis on math and reading in the days since NCLB. Is this something you would like to change?
Rachel, it’s all the way. You are so qualified to be a SFUSD School Board Member. Your experience and knowledge of matters is abounding, and your ability to get things done is impressive.
I have taught in this district for 35 plus years and have not met anyone I would put my trust in until I had the privilege of meeting you.
You have my support all the way.
Nancy