Trustees

Joshua Chancer, representing Area 1 was elected to our Board of Trustees in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He has been a Ventura County resident for the majority of his life. He attended public schools from the elementary grades through his college and university career, including Ventura College in 1996.

Josh Chancer has 20 years of experience in public education, teaching English Language Arts, Social Science, Adult ESL. Currently, Josh is employed by the Oxnard Union High School District as a Social Science Teacher. He also served as an Adjunct Instructor at California Lutheran University, Graduate School of Education.

Josh received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from San Diego State University in 2001, a California Teaching Credential from CSUCI in 2002, and a Master’s Degree in Education from National University. He was recognized as a Governor’s Teacher Fellow in 2001, and in 2009 was a recipient of the Pacific Teacher Innovation Network Award and Grant.

Trustee Lou Lichtl, representing Area 2, was elected to the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees in 2022. A retired public school educator of over 35 years, Lichtl presently serves as the administrator of Passageway School, a non-public school for students with disabilities located in his hometown of Newbury Park. 

Trustee Lichtl brings a breadth of knowledge to the position born out of his own experiences as a community college student and as a longtime high school educator, which includes 10 years of teaching experience, 10 years of service as an assistant principal, and 12 ½ years as a secondary school principal, including 8 ½ years at Thousand Oaks High School and 3 ½ years as assistant superintendent with the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

Lichtl’s knowledge in school management, budget, and policy development and implementation helps him support the students and classified staff within the Ventura County Community College District.

A resident of Newbury Park since 1996, Lichtl has been recognized by both community organizations and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) for his service and dedication to public school education and the success of all students.

He has served as the ACSA Legislative Action Committee Representative for the local charter known as COLVOP (Conejo, Las Virgenes, Oak Park) due to his broad knowledge in education and relationships built over a career of service. 

Trustee Lichtl and his wife of 34 years, Lisa, have two adult children.

Trustee Stan Mantooth, representing Area 3, was elected to the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees in 2020.

Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, Stan Mantooth, has 45 years of experience in
K-12 school districts and the County Office of Education.  Beginning in 1996, and until his appointment as County Superintendent of Schools in September 2008, Mr. Mantooth served as Associate Superintendent for Administrative Services with the Ventura County Office of Education. In 2010, 2014 and in 2018 he was elected to successive four year terms.  

Mr. Mantooth’s specific areas of focus and expertise include financial systems and budget development, personnel administration, collective bargaining, facilities planning and administration, and risk management.  Mr. Mantooth has shared his expertise while serving on a variety of statewide committees, including serving as past-President of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA), the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). 

Mr. Mantooth has served on a variety of local committees and commissions including First 5 Ventura County, the Ventura County P-20 Regional Council, the Ventura County Community Foundation, and the Ventura County School Boards Association. 

Mr. Mantooth has a Bachelor’s degree from California State University Northridge and a Master’s degree in School Business Administration from Pepperdine University, and also holds a California Teaching Credential and a California Administrative Services Credential. He has been a Faculty Member/Lecturer at California State University Northridge, California State University Channel Islands and Pepperdine University. 

Trustee Joe Piechowski, representing Area 4. was elected to the Ventura County Community College District  Board of Trustees in 2024.

After growing up in New Jersey as the great-grandson of Polish and Italian immigrants, Trustee Piechowski came to southern California in 1989 to attend UCLA. When he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, he became the first in his family to graduate from college.

Trustee Piechowski moved to Ventura County in 1996 to work for State Assemblyman Nao Takasugi,  where he worked on issues such as public safety, transportation, insurance, and military and veterans' affairs. After Assemblyman Takasugi was termed out of office, Trustee Piechowski moved to the private sector, working at a dot-com start-up in Westlake Village. During this time, he enhanced his career by enrolling in Computer Programming courses at Moorpark College.

In 2008, he earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from California State University Channel Islands. Since 2014, Trustee Piechowski has served as the managing editor of two UCLA sports blogs, one of which he co-founded. 

Trustee Piechowski chaired both Simi Valley Neighborhood Council #4 as well as the Simi Valley Special Event Support Review Committee. He has also served on the Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission and the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura. 

Trustee Piechowski and his wife Laurie reside in Simi Valley.
 

Trustee Gabriela Torres, representing Area 5, was elected to the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She is committed to social justice issues and serving students. She is an Oxnard resident and an administrator for the Oxnard School District.

Sierra Whalen, a second-year Political Science major at Moorpark College, is dedicated to representing the students of the Ventura County Community College District. She will use her multifaceted identity, connection to students, and experience to effectively advocate for student needs. As Student Trustee, Sierra's main goals include:

• Establishing a food insecurity task force
• Enhancing student engagement and retention
• Extending services for students
• Enhancing student reporting and feedback

Sierra adds, "It is imperative to remember that each student is an individual with their own background, perspectives, needs, and goals. The decisions we make, or don't make, directly affect the livelihood and future of VCCCD students. This will be at the forefront of my mind as I serve as Student Trustee."

As Student Trustee, Sierra will represent and advocate for her fellow students enrolled in Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura colleges at monthly Board of Trustee meetings and other constituent meetings across the District.