Justin Jackson was appointed to the Moreno Valley school board to fill the former seat of longtime member Cleveland Johnson, who retired in January. (Courtesy of Moreno Valley Unified School District) The Moreno Valley school board has filled a vacant seat with Justin Jackson, an alum of its own Val ley View High School. The board appointed Jackson to fill the Trustee Area 3 seat vacated by longtime member Cleveland Johnson. Johnson, who joined the board in 2010, gave his retirement notice Jan. 23. His term was set to end in December 2026. RELATED: Cleveland Johnson, longtime Moreno Valley board member, retires Jackson began his term Wednesday, Feb. 25. His provisional appointment was approved with three yes votes, by board President Brandy Clark and members Sammie Luna and Rhodes Williams. Johanna Leiva abstained, saying she needed more time to deliberate before voting. Jackson will be sworn into office at that board’s Tuesday, March 10, meeting. Trustee Area 3 encompasses the area east of the 215 Freeway and south of Alessandro Boulevard. Jackson will serve through the end of Johnson’s term, which will end Dec. 11. Moreno Valley school board member Cleveland Johnson, seen Tuesday, July 23, 2024, has retired from the board. (File photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Jackson has a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in American institutions and a minor in Pan Asian American studies from UCLA. He graduated from Valley View High in Moreno Valley and said during his interview with the board that he always wanted to return to the city in which he grew up. Standing before the board was “a full circle moment,” he said. “My commitment is simple and true: students first, strong collaboration and responsible governance,” Jackson said during his interview at the Feb. 25 school board meeting. Jackson pledged to use his experience in the nonprofit and government sectors to advocate for students and the school district at the local, state and federal level. Jackson is press secretary for the BlueGreen Alliance, a nonprofit group that partners with labor unions and environmental groups. He has also worked for former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, State Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, a Friday, Feb. 27, news release states. Related Articles Riverside measure to increase sales tax will be on June ballot Moreno Valley Mall reopens after two-week closure Moreno Valley Mall set to reopen Thursday, March 5 Moreno Valley Mall could reopen Wednesday if fire doors pass inspection San Bernardino Councilmember Treasure Ortiz gets ‘cease and desist’ letter from city Fred Banuelos, a grandparent in the district said Jackson was educated and is always there for the community. “He stands up for what he believes in and I respect Justin,” Banuelos said. “… I go to a lot of meetings and every meeting I go to he is there.” Rylee Peak, a Moreno Valley city commissioner, called Jackson a phenomenal public servant who understood what it takes to care about his community. “He has brought out-of-the box thinking to the city of Moreno Valley,” Peak said. ...read more read less