BELLFLOWER – Bellflower resident Hannah Flanagan-Flores was sworn in Sept. 7 as the newest member of the Bellflower Unified Board of Education, replacing retired board member Dr. Paul Helzer.

“We are glad that Ms. Flanagan-Flores has joined our Governance Team,” Board of Education President Dr. Sue ElHessen said. “Her passion and dedication to serving Bellflower Unified is highly regarded throughout our community.”

Ms. Flanagan-Flores has served on the PTA Council and the Measure BB Citizens Oversight Committee, and has been a parent advisory member. She is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a minor in law. She works in communications as an outreach associate.

“I’m humbled by the trust placed in me by this Board of Education,” Flanagan-Flores said. “I will do my utmost to serve the students and communities of Bellflower, Lakewood and Cerritos in the coming weeks and, hopefully, years.”

Bellflower Unified’s Board of Education decided to make the provisional appointment after the July retirement of Dr. Paul Helzer, who has served on the board for 16 years. Board members interviewed five applicants during a public session on Aug. 31 before choosing Flanagan-Flores.

Ms. Flanagan-Flores joins Dr. ElHessen, Jerry Cleveland, Debbie Cuadros and Laura Sanchez-Ramirez on the governing board. Her term will run through the November 2018 election.