Meet the Advocacy Team
Senior Director of Policy and Governmental Relations
Iván Carrillo has worked in advocacy and policymaking since 2009. Iván entered the Legislature through the prestigious Assembly Fellows program. During his seven years in the Legislature, Iván secured funding, advanced policies, and created programs to support students and educators. Through his experience working in both Capitol and district legislative offices, Iván developed a unique and valuable perspective of intersecting grassroots advocacy and policymaking to create change. Read full bio
Serette Kaminski
Legislative Advocate
Diana Vu
Legislative Advocate
Diana Vu joined ACSA in 2020. Diana has worked in both the Assembly and Senate in a variety of positions, including policy consultant and legislative director. She has a broad range of experience with California government having represented many parts of the state, including the Central Valley, the Bay Area, the Central Coast, and Southern California. Through this work, Diana has become skilled at navigating the complexities of the legislative process and the impact legislation can have on the varying regions of the state. Read full bio
Kordell Hampton
Legislative Advocate
As a principal consultant for the Senate Education Committee (March 2022 to December 2024), Kordell provided strategic policy guidance to legislative members and staff. He conducted in-depth analyses of proposed legislation, offering actionable recommendations to enhance policy impact in areas such as school health, safety, curriculum, and technology. He also managed key legislative initiatives, including the Student Advisory Board on Education and the Joint Assembly and Senate hearings on interscholastic policy. At ACSA, Kordell focuses on state budget, school finance, arts education, and school safety, among other key policy areas. Read full bio
Dorothy Johnson
Legislative Advocate
Dorothy Johnson joined the Association of California School Administrators in 2021 bringing over a decade of experience advocating for statewide associations serving California’s local public agencies. Immediately before ACSA, Dorothy served as a gubernatorial appointee to the State’s 2020 Census Office, first as legislative director and then as policy advisor. Dorothy has honed expertise in a diverse array of issues, with emphasis on local government, that include governance, administration, employee relations, revenue and taxation, elections, public works, public safety, and state mandates. Dorothy works on employee-employer relations, CalSTRS/PERS, governance, privacy, and utilities for ACSA among other issues. Read full bio
Kristy Gilmore
Political Affairs Coordinator
Kristy Gilmore has been with the Association of California School Administrators since April 2019, starting as a Legislative Assistant. She was promoted to Legislative Associate in 2021 and currently serves as the Political Affairs Coordinator in ACSA's Governmental Relations department. In her role, Kristy works closely with Senior Director Iván Carrillo on political initiatives, helping to advance ACSA's mission and ensure its voice is heard in the legislative process. Read full bio
Jose Vargas
Legislative Associate
Jose Vargas joined ACSA in December of 2024. Prior to ACSA, Jose spent six years working for United Ways of California on a variety of issues. There he led the drafting of the California Community Schools Partnership Act (Chapter 44, Statutes of 2021), building on the legacy of the Healthy Start Program. Before his time at United Way, Jose briefly worked in the Senate, working on public safety and judiciary issues. Read full bio
Kimberly Johnson
Legislative Assistant