FIRST 5 Commission

Commission &
Committee Meetings

The FIRST 5 Commission is responsible for implementing the goals and objectives outlined in Proposition 10, administrating the finances allocated from Proposition 10, and adopting an annual Strategic Plan.

A smiling young child with a pink hair bow in her hair standing in a sunny background.

Commission Meetings

Meeting Location

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held in person at:

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
4000 Moorpark Avenue
San Jose, CA 95117 

Meeting Accommodations

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Brown Act, anyone who requires accommodation for these public meetings should notify FIRST 5 24-hours before the meeting at 408-260-3787 or commission@first5kids.org. 

Guiding Documents

Commission Bylaws (View Bylaws)

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ Ordinance on Commissioner Term Limits (View Ordinance)

Public Comment

FIRST 5 Commission meetings are generally held monthly. There are no regularly scheduled meetings in July or December. Members of the public are always welcome to attend these public meetings, and can provide public comments as follows:

Written public comments may be submitted by email to commission@first5kids.org. Written comments will be distributed to Commissioners within a 24-hour period.

There is an open public comment period at the beginning of every meeting. If you would like to speak on a general topic or speak to one of the specific agenda items at a Commission meeting, please fill out a “request to speak” card which is available at the meeting. Complete the form before the meeting or item begins and submit it to the clerk of the board.

Upcoming Meetings

Subcommittee Filter

October 7

Personnel and Finance Committee

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Meeting Location

4000 Moorpark Avenue
San Jose, CA 95117 United States
October 15

Commission Meeting

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Meeting Location

4000 Moorpark Avenue
San Jose, CA 95117 United States
November 10

Issues: Review and Development Committee Meeting

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Meeting Location

November 12

Personnel and Finance Committee

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Meeting Location

4000 Moorpark Avenue
San Jose, CA 95117 United States
See All Past Events

Commission Committees

Personnel and Finance

Committee Members: Boettcher, Souza, Burrell

The Personnel and Finance Committee oversees the annual budget process, operations and administration, including audits, expenditures, contracts, investments, personnel, policies and facilities.

Program and Evaluation

Committee Members: Pelayo, Little, Sra

The Program and Evaluation Committee oversees the development of new programs, the implementation of evaluation tools and data gathering methodologies, and monitors existing programs and community activities.

Issues: Review and Development

Committee Members: Charles, Samoff, Ellenberg

The Issues: Review and Development Committee oversees the discussion and/or review of pending and proposed legislation at the local, state, and federal level and the discussion and/or review of policy-level emerging issues.

Defined Contribution Plans Committee

Committee Members: Cloyd, Shilling, Soto

Oversight and administration of the defined contribution plans established by FIRST 5 Santa Clara County under Sections 401(a) and 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, and delegation of certain fiduciary duties and responsibilities to the Committee with respect to those plans.

Meet the Commission

See Upcoming Meetings

Melissa Roth

Director of Programs, Palo Alto Community Child Care, Santa Clara County Local Early Education Planning Council

Melissa Roth is the Director of Programs for Palo Alto Community Child Care (PACCC), where she provides executive leadership for a comprehensive system of early learning and school-age programs serving children and families across Palo Alto. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Santa Clara County Local Early Education Planning Council (LPC), working alongside community partners to strengthen and expand access to high-quality early care and education. Melissa is passionate about advancing equitable access to high-quality early learning, developing strong leaders, and creating high-quality, inclusive early learning environments where children, families, and educators can thrive.

Dr. Antonia Charles

Director, Pediatric Healthy Lifestyle Center 
Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System

Dr. Antonia Zazueta Charles currently serves as the Director of the Pediatric Healthy Lifestyle Center (PHLC) at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Prior to becoming the Center’s director in 2013, she worked for thirteen years as a primary care pediatrician at the Valley Health Center East Valley. She received her medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco and completed her pediatric residency at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.   

Supervisor Susan Ellenberg

Elected Public Official, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors 

Susan Ellenberg is a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She also serves as the Chair of the County’s Public Safety and Justice Committee and the Vice Chair of the Health and Hospitals Committee. Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors in November 2018, she served on the San Jose Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2014 to 2018, and as its Board President in 2018. She is a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia University’s School of Law. 

Alma Burrell

Chief Administrative Officer, Roots Community Health, At-large Representative, District 2

Alma Burrell is Chief Administrative Officer for Roots Community Health Center (Roots), a nonprofit health organization that is committed to serving the most marginalized and underserved in our communities. Prior to her position with Roots, she managed a variety of maternal, child and adolescent health programs for the Santa Clara County Public Health Department for nearly 20 years. Ms. Burrell has spent her professional career advocating for families, assessing community challenges and supports; and designing and implementing programs that support health. Ms. Burrell received her Bachelors ofScience and Masters of Public Health degrees from San Jose State University.

Daniel Little

Director, County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency

Daniel Little is the Director of Santa Clara County’s Social Services Agency (SSA). He joined the Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) in 2017 and has served as Director of DFCS since 2019. He previously served as the Director of Permanency for the Nebraska Families Collaborative, a large non-profit organization offering critical services for abused or neglected children. He received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology and has a master’s degree in social work from Wichita State University.

Dr. Leticia Pelayo

Pediatrician, At-large Representative, District 1

Dr. Leticia Pelayo is a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente. She previously worked at the Valley Health Center in Gilroy. She earned her medical degree from Stanford University Medical School, where she learned to make the most of her education and to ensure that she makes a difference every day. She believes that education on prevention, disease process, and treatment is essential in empowering parents and caregivers to become advocates for their children. She is grateful to learn something new from her patients, parents, and her own kids every day.

Rachel Samoff

Retired Educator, At-large Representative, District 5

Rachel Samoff has worked with young children for 44 years. Her work has included teaching children, supporting parents, educating teachers, designing curricula, and directing childcare facilities in the United States and several countries in Africa. Rachel previously served as the Founding Executive Director of the Children’s Pre-School Center in Palo Alto and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and master’s degree from the University of Michigan with a concentration in early childhood education and multicultural education.

Anne Souza

Site Manager, California Sports Center At-large Representative, District 4

Anne Souza is the site manager for the California Sports Center—a gymnastics club and dance studio for more than 1,000 students. She has held several positions in the field of education including being a teacher’s aide, preschool lead, and physical education teacher. She received a bachelor’s degree in dance education at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Breenu Sra

Marriage and Family Therapist, At-large Representative, District 3

Breenu Sra is a marriage and family therapist and psychotherapist who also treats individuals and families involved in the legal system. She has 24 years of experience working in education and serving as an advocate for students and families. She received her law degree from Lincoln Law School and has a master’s degree in humanistic and clinical psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology, a master’s degree in school psychology from La Sierra University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.