Mara Madrigal-Weiss Appointed as Chair of State Mental Health Commission

Mara Madrigal-Weiss, the executive director of student wellness and school culture for the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), has been appointed as the chair of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission for the third consecutive year, beginning in January 2024. This makes her the longest serving Latina chair in the commission’s 20-year history.

Madrigal-Weiss has been serving as the designee of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction on the commission since 2017. In addition to her role as chair, she is also the chair of the Prevention and Early Intervention Subcommittee, vice chair of the Workplace Mental Health Committee, and previously served as commission vice chair after her election in 2019.

Recognizing her innovation and commitment to student mental health, Madrigal-Weiss received the first Wellness Together Mental Health Innovator Award earlier this fall. Her team at SDCOE maintains a virtual wellness center and compiles mental health support resources for students, families, and schools. She regularly contributes to SDCOE’s resource guide library, including guides for educators, resources for the holidays, and how to facilitate dialogue with compassion. Madrigal-Weiss has been dedicated to keeping health and wellness top of mind in her role at SDCOE.