Meet Nora Parella
A Foundation in Community Advocacy
My commitment to public service started long before my career in education policy. I grew up in Fresno, raised by a single mother who was deeply passionate about local politics. She taught me early on that community engagement isn't passive - it requires showing up, listening, and speaking out for what matters. Those lessons stuck with me and inspired me to enter the world of public policy.
Putting Down Roots in Placer County
My husband and I chose to move to Roseville for one simple reason: the excellent reputation of the local schools. Since then, we’ve built a life here, welcomed our son, and deeply invested in the future of the city.
Now, as a mom with a little one entering the public school system, preserving and strengthening that legacy of educational excellence is deeply personal to me. I want the schools my child grows up in to be places that work for every single kid and every family in our community.
A Decade of Education Policy Leadership
For more than a decade, I have served as a public servant working to make California’s education system serve students better. As a Policy Administrator at the California Department of Education, I lead the Policy and Initiatives Unit and sit on our Division's leadership team. My daily work focuses on the intersection of state and federal policy, turning legislation into real programs, holding those programs accountable, and partnering with school districts across the state to make them work effectively.
Bringing My Experience to the County Board
Earlier in my tenure, I directly managed California's federal accountability reporting on student outcomes, the state's systemic improvement planning, and our application for California's Special Education funding. I also led our critical work to address disproportionality in special education - making sure students weren't being wrongly funneled into separate tracks or denied the support they needed.
I am running because I bring the precise professional skills needed to do this work well from day one. I believe public schools are a profound public good worth investing in. I will bring a steady, collaborative approach to the Board to make sure we spend public funds wisely, keep our programs focused on student achievement, and build schools that work for everyone.