Hydra Mendoza

Hydra Mendoza has more than 20 years of experience working as a community organizer, government and public affairs advisor, and education and equity leader. Hydra was the former Executive Director and a founding member of Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco, a national organization that engages parents and community members to support, promote, and improve public education. Hydra was first appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom to his Policy Council on Children, Youth, and Families, and later to his staff as his Senior Advisor on Education. Hydra’s work allowed her to build a strong partnership between the Public School System (Pre-K to 20), the community, and the City. She subsequently served under Mayor Ed Lee as his Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and Equity before his untimely passing. She was the first, and only Filipina elected to office in San Francisco. In 2006, 2010, and 2014, Hydra successfully won a citywide bid and re-elections for a seat on the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education where she was elected by her peers, twice, as the President and Vice President. Hydra served as the Deputy Chancellor for the Division of Community Empowerment, Partnerships and Communications responsible for the offices of Family and Community Engagement, Community Affairs, Government Relations, Marketing, Communications, Press, and Translation and Interpretation in the New York City Department of Education. The NYCDOE is the largest public school system in the country serving 1.1 million children. Hydra is the current VP, Chief of Strategic Relationships for the Chair and CEO of Salesforce where she helps to develop, build and maintain key stakeholder relationships.