Mara Madrigal-Weiss, the executive director of student wellness and school culture for the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), has been appointed as the chair of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission for the third consecutive year starting in January 2024. This makes her the longest serving Latina chair in the commission’s 20-year history. She has been serving as a designee of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction on the commission since 2017. In addition to her role as chair, Madrigal-Weiss is also the chair of the Prevention and Early Intervention Subcommittee, vice chair of the Workplace Mental Health Committee, and previously served as commission vice chair after her election in 2019.
Madrigal-Weiss has been recognized for her innovation and commitment to student mental health. She received the first Wellness Together Mental Health Innovator Award earlier this fall, which recognized her team at SDCOE for maintaining a virtual wellness center and compiling mental health support resources for students, families, and schools. She regularly contributes to SDCOE’s resource guide library, including guides for educators, resources for the holidays, and how to facilitate dialogue with compassion.
Throughout her career at SDCOE, Madrigal-Weiss has been dedicated to keeping health and wellness top of mind. Her team’s efforts have helped countless students receive much needed support during challenging times.