Alison Makela will oversee curriculum and instruction for the Mill Valley School District's roughly 2,300 students when she starts as Director of Educational Services on Monday, August 10.

The district announced the hire on Thursday, July 30, through the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce. Makela comes from West Contra Costa Unified School District, where she spent more than 15 years in roles spanning classroom teaching, school leadership, and district-level program management.

Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman called Makela "an exceptional combination of instructional expertise, strategic leadership and a deeply relational approach to her work," adding that her commitment to equity and collaboration "aligns closely with the values of our District."

The role is significant. Makela will lead instructional programs across the district's five elementary schools and Mill Valley Middle School, which together serve communities in Mill Valley, Strawberry, Tamalpais Valley, and surrounding unincorporated areas, according to Marin LAFCO records.

Makela's most visible credential is eight years as principal of Madera Elementary School in West Contra Costa Unified, a position she was appointed to in June 2012. At Madera she led schoolwide planning, program development, and family partnerships.

After leaving the principalship, she shifted to district-wide work. As Facilitator of Deeper Learning Initiatives, she focused on learner-centered and inquiry-driven teaching. Most recently, as Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives and Professional Learning, she managed state and federal grants supporting professional development, the expansion of transitional kindergarten, and school improvement efforts. She also contributed to the district's funding plan.

Makela holds a master's degree in education and an administrative services credential from UC Berkeley, where she was a Behring Scholar in the Principal Leadership Institute. She also holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Dominican University of California. Her undergraduate degree is in international relations from UC Davis.

The hire lands as the district prepares for a busy 2026-27 year. According to the district's superintendent page, Kaufman has identified three priorities for the coming term: visible progress on the Mill Valley Middle School modernization project, a pilot of a new elementary math curriculum, and continued whole-child support for students. Makela's background in curriculum development and professional learning positions her to lead the math pilot and related instructional work.

Data confirmation for the 2026-27 school year opened July 22, and enrollment is underway. The Board of Trustees meets on the second Thursday of each month.