My Story

I'm Allyson Muñiz Damikolas, an engineer, mom, California native, and proud school board president.

I grew up in Southern California. As the eldest of four children, I often found myself taking on the role of caretaker, especially during difficult times. These early experiences instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility, especially for our young ones.

Public education changed my life and was my pathway to a brighter future filled with opportunity.

I excelled in math and science, eventually earning a degree in chemical engineering from Cal Poly Pomona. After graduation, I began my career in environmental consulting, where I applied my problem-solving skills to address complex issues.

Life took an unexpected turn when my two daughters were diagnosed with a complex medical condition. I put my career on hold to become their fiercest champion. From advocating for them at their schools to ensuring they received the critical care they needed, I fought tirelessly for their health and well-being. Today, both of my daughters are thriving. In the fall, my youngest daughter will be a TUSD high school student and my oldest daughter will be attending public university as a pre-med student.

My advocacy for my girls started my career in public service. Because of my involvement in their schools and my work to make sure they were given the resources to thrive, I saw that other students in TUSD needed an advocate too. I decided to run for the school board to be their voice.

In 2020, I was elected to my first term, and I immediately got to work, bringing millions of dollars in grant funding to the school district. I connected essential resources to students in need, bolstered dual enrollment partnerships, and expanded technical education options. Today, our achievement gaps are the lowest they have been in decades, and 87% of TUSD families feel the district is excelling at fostering an inclusive environment for all students.

Now, I will continue to bring my practical skills to another term on the TUSD school board. I am just getting started advocating for Tustin kids and families. We still have work to do at Tustin Unified—and I have the experience to get things done.

Onward!