Meet the Board

Shelly Ruiz, Board President

Trustee Area #5
Term: 2022-2026

Shelly Ruiz grew up in Banning, attending school from Kindergarten to 12th grade. She had incredible teachers that fostered her love for learning and challenged her to think from other people’s point of view. She is proud to be from Banning.

After high school Ruiz attended UC Riverside obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She started teaching after graduation while working towards her teaching credential at Cal State San Bernardino and then continued on to earn her Master’s in Reading. 

Ruiz moved back to Banning to raise her daughter in the town that will always be home.   As a Trustee she will bring her experience in teaching and her love for this town to support the students and their families. 

Laura Troutman, Board Clerk

Trustee Area #3
Term: 2024 - 2028

While Laura Troutman comes from a long line of educators, she is the first to serve on a board of school trustees. She has been a member of the Banning Unified board since 2019.  Troutman’s maternal grandfather worked as a school principal, while her maternal grandmother taught Head Start. Her husband is a dual enrollment teacher at the high school with a master’s degree in government, and his parents volunteered for years in Banning schools. 

Troutman is currently furthering her education by taking prerequisite courses at Mt. San Jacinto College in Menifee to become a registered nurse. Throughout her life, she has always felt a desire to help people. She is fulfilling this lifelong mission through her service to the District and board. 

Leslie Novalis, Trustee

Trustee Area #1
Term: 2022-2026

Leslie Novalis joined the Banning Unified School District Board of Trustees in December of 2022.  Prior to retiring and moving to Banning in 2016, Ms. Novalis taught in Pico Rivera Unified School District in both elementary and middle school for 18 years.  During that time, she was involved with various programs including Project-Based Learning, Academic Decathlon, the Green Club, and a Spanish program for the STEAM Academy, to name a few. 

Prior to teaching, she worked for twelve years in various capacities as a business woman in both real estate development and medical office management. 

 Ms. Novalis received her undergraduate degree in Spanish with a minor in real estate finance and urban development from the University of Arizona, and her graduate work in education at the University of Denver. 

Since moving to Banning, she has worked for Carol’s Kitchen before and during the pandemic delivering food to shut-in seniors in Sun Lakes, and has been a Sunday school teacher at her local church.  She is excited to partner with students, parents, teachers, the District and the community to help students reach their full educational and social potential. 

Sharon "Liz" Huerta Brewster, Trustee

Trustee Area #2
Term: June 2026 - November 2026

Huerta Brewster brings more than 11 years of experience in public education as an instructional paraprofessional in Redlands Unified School District. She currently serves as President of the Redlands Educational Support Professionals Association (RESPA), representing classified employees and advocating for educational support staff.

A dedicated advocate for students and public education, Huerta Brewster brings experience in leadership, communications, community engagement, and governance. She is committed to supporting student achievement, fostering strong relationships with families and staff, and ensuring all students have access to opportunities for success.

Huerta Brewster earned an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Chaffey College and has devoted her career to serving students and strengthening educational communities.

Lucia "Lucy" Martinez-Lara, Trustee

Trustee Area #4
Term: 2024 - 2028

In her role as a trustee, Lucy Martinez-Lara seeks to create closer ties between parents and teachers. She believes that doing so will create better paths for students to achieve academic success.

Martinez-Lara grew up in the community and attended the Banning Unified School District. She was inspired by many of her teachers, including a math instructor who challenged her students in creative ways.

Martinez-Lara plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College to earn an associate’s degree and then study to become a registered nurse.