CVHEC NEWS: Elaine Cash Named CVHEC Grants & Program Coordinator

New position supports the growth and sustainability of CVHEC and its work

Educator Elaine C. Cash, retired superintendent of Riverdale Joint Unified School District and a K-12 liaison for the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium since 2017, has been named to a full-time position as CVHEC’s Grants & Programs coordinator.

In her new capacity effective October 1, Elaine is responsible for grant writing, management and reporting of grants and sponsored programs, announced Dr. Benjamín Durán, CHVEC executive director.

“This new position for CVHEC will help support the growth and sustainability of the consortium and our work,” Durán said.

Elaine first joined CVHEC in 2016 and, as a liaison, she served as a connection and resource to consortium K-12 partners for strategies such as the valley-wide adoption of the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI), increasing FAFSA completion numbers in Fresno County and dual enrollment.

“Elaine provided understanding about the K-12 system that CVHEC, with our focus on higher education, was not articulate in,” said Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC Operations and Finance manager who supervises staff positions.

Elaine also is the executive director of her own education consultant company, ECC Education Group LLC and currently works as the facilitator for the FAFSA Completion Work Group with the Fresno Compact. She also serves on the Fresno State College Readiness Advisory Board and as a management trustee for California’s Valued Trust.

As a consultant, Elaine has worked with school districts throughout the Central Valley, largely focusing on student transition from high school to college.

She retired as Riverdale Joint Unified School District superintendent in 2010, capping, at the time, a 27-year career in education that included experience as a classroom teacher, elementary and high school principal and assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

During Elaine’s nine years as superintendent, all Riverdale schools earned the California Distinguished Schools recognition and Riverdale High School received the College Board National Inspiration Award.

Her article, “A Change in Beliefs Leads to A Change in Behavior and Student Achievement,” was published in the National Staff Development Council’s Journal of Staff Development in June 2010.

Elaine earned her BA at the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration at Fresno State.