About the Board
The Board of Education is the governing body of the Oak Park Unified School District. It is a five-member entity, with each individual board member elected at large and serving four-year terms for the unincorporated area of Oak Park. After every term, board members may choose to seek re-election. The main responsibilities of the Board of Education include setting district policy, establishing district goals, ensuring that the district is compliant with Federal, State, and Local requirements, creating a budget that prioritizes the established goals, and maintaining contractual relationships with the Oak Park Teachers Association and the Oak Park Classified Association. The Board is also responsible for employing the Superintendent and the unit to whom the Superintendent is accountable. Together, the Board of Education and the Superintendent form the Governance Team, working collaboratively to fulfill the unique responsibilities of each entity. The Board fulfills its responsibilities by way of action at regularly scheduled monthly Board meetings and special meetings when warranted. We welcome your attendance at board meetings and think you will find them beneficial in increasing your knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the district. As elected representatives, we strive to balance the interests of all facets of the Oak Park Unified School District and the community at large in our decisions, with the children at the forefront of our minds.
You can contact the OPUSD Board of Education members at:
Jim Moynihan, President -
JMoynihan@opusd.org
Megan Lantsman, Vice President -
MLantsman@opusd.org
Soyon Hardy, Clerk -
SHardy@opusd.org
Denise Helfstein, Member -
DHelfstein@opusd.org
Eric Newman, Member -
ENewman@opusd.org
Leonardo Castaneda,
Student Member
Or through the Chief Communications Officer, Ragini Aggarwal, at raggarwal@opusd.org.
Jim Moynihan, President
First Term 2022-2026
Jim is a 25-year Oak Park resident whose son attended MCMS and OPHS. He is currently a Senior Vice President at U.S. Bank and has a background in Finance and IT. Jim has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including a symphony orchestra, scout troops, church, the Sherman Oaks Nursery School, and professional organizations. He is a past president of the Healthcare Financial Management Association of Southern California and has served on national standards organizations responsible for healthcare data exchange.
Jim has an undergraduate degree in History and an MBA in Finance.
Megan Lantsman, Vice President
First Term 2022-2026
Megan grew up in neighboring Agoura Hills and has been an Oak Park resident since 2021. She serves as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, where she works with domestic and international partners to combat human trafficking around the world. Megan eaarned her B.A. from U.C. Berkely and her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.
Megan and her husband are the proud parents of a Brookside Elementary School student.
Denise Helfstein, Member
Third Term 2024-2028
Denise has been a resident of Oak Park for over 20 years. She has served in a variety of volunteer positions in the District and the community, including a two-year term as the PTA President at Brookside Elementary School and a member of the OPUSD Safe Kids Task Force. Denise holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California at San Diego and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco. She is a member of the State Bar of California.
Denise and her husband, Todd, are the parents of two sons, who graduated from Oak Park High School.
Soyon Hardy, Board Clerk
First Term 2022-2026
Soyon has been an active volunteer with OPUSD schools and committees since moving to Oak Park with her family in 2013. She has served on the executive boards of Medea Creek Middle School PFA and Brookside Elementary PTA and as a member of the Oak Park Citizens' Oversight Committee, Curriculum Council, and Medea Creek Site Council.
Soyon is a healthcare transactional and corporate attorney and holds a B.A. from Cornell University and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
Eric Newman, Member
Provisional until November 2026
Eric is an Oak Park parent, community volunteer, youth sports coach, and technology executive with experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and budget oversight. He has served as Chair of the Oak Park Citizens’ Oversight Committee for Bond Measure S, Secretary of the Oak Hills Elementary School Site Council, and as a member of the Environmental Education and Awareness Committee.
Committed to OPUSD’s long-term success, Eric supports thoughtful governance, fiscal responsibility, and opportunities that help students thrive through healthy lifestyles, technology and career readiness, financial literacy, and environmental awareness.
Eric and his partner, Kimberly, have two daughters who attend Oak Hills Elementary School. He is also a proud coach with AYSO Soccer and USYVL Volleyball, helping young athletes build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills both on and off the field.
Leonardo Castaneda, Student Member
2026-2027