Sheryl Sisil & Ismael Serrano
Madera Unified School District and University of California, Merced
Sheryl Sisil is the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for Madera Unified School District, where she is committed to fostering a supportive and innovative learning environment. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree and teaching credential from California State University, Fresno, and later completed her Master’s in Administrative Services from Concordia University, Portland.
In her current role, Mrs. Sisil oversees nine key departments, including Curriculum and Instruction (elementary and secondary), Multilingual Educational Programs, Assessment, College and Career Readiness, Early Childhood Education, Arts Education, State and Federal Programs, and Expanded Learning Opportunities. These departments are integral to providing comprehensive educational services tailored to meet the diverse needs of MUSD students. Her vision is to equip students with the skills to become creative, collaborative, critical thinkers, and effective communicators, ensuring they are well-prepared for both higher education and the workforce.
Before being named Associate Superintendent, Mrs. Sisill served as the Director of College and Career Readiness for three years, where she implemented initiatives that enhanced students’ access to post-secondary opportunities. With sixteen years of experience as a high school teacher and administrator, she has a deep understanding of the educational landscape and the challenges faced by students and educators alike.
Mrs. Sisil is passionate about promoting equity in education and advocates for programs that support underrepresented students. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and three daughters, who are active in sports and involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America). Mrs.Sisil loves being a part of their activities, cheering them on, and supporting their interests. She also engages with her community, attends educational workshops, and explores new teaching methodologies to continuously improve student outcomes. Her commitment to excellence in education and her belief in the potential of every student drive her efforts to create transformative learning experiences within the district.
Ismael Serrano arrived in California at the age of seven (7). As an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, Ismael had to learn the English language at a very young age while enrolled at four different districts in K-8 within a four-year period: Kerman USD, Laton USD, Riverdale USD, and Caruthers USD. In 1989, he graduated from Caruthers High School and began his higher education at Fresno City College and then transferred to California State University, Fresno where he graduated with a Liberals Studies degree.
In 2005 Ismael Serrano was hired by University of California, Merced Center for Educational Partnerships. During this period, Ismael served as a Coordinator, Project Director, and most recent as Assistant Director of Program Improvement while overseeing state and federally funded pre-college program. Most recently he has been tasked with the direct oversite of Bridging the Gap in Mathematics Initiative. This initiative is designed to engaged and work collaboratively with K-12 districts in reducing the math achievement gap and aid in increasing state assessment results for low-income and first-generation students in the Central Valley of California.
Finally, Ismael Serrano’s core principles are centered in Accountability, Honesty & Transparency. Over the course of his educational career, he’s come across other core principles that he’s adopted in his work, especially when addressing gap of inequities impacting students in the Central Valley. Two guiding principles that are at the core of his belief are as followed:
- “We will make decisions based on what is right for our students and supported by research and data”.
- “What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right.” by Albert Einstein
