Anna Piercy, longtime Anaheim Union High School District trustee and former Cypress mayor, is being remembered for her decades of service to educating local school children.
Piercy died on May 6 at age 80. She had been battling cancer.
Before joining the school board, Piercy worked in the AUHSD for more than 37 years. She started her career in education in 1968 as a seventh-grade geography, art and reading teacher at Trident Junior High School, then worked as a speech, drama and art teacher at Oxford Junior High School in 1979.
In 1980, she joined the staff at Lexington Junior High School, where she worked until her retirement in 2005, teaching history, English, speech, drama and art during her tenure on campus.
Only a year after she announced her retirement from teaching, Piercy ran for the AUHSD school board and won.
“When she believed in something, she let us know, she was never afraid,” AUHSD board President Annemarie Randle-Trejo said as she announced Piercy’s passing at the May 7 board meeting. “She also listened. She listened to each and every one of us up here on this dais and to everyone out there.”
Piercy was elected to the school board four more times, twice unopposed.
“It was wonderful to see a person do what she does with pure joy,” AUHSD Trustee Katherine Smith said. “This position was never a hardship or anything difficult for her. She managed a lot and I am grateful to her and her family.”
“We were very lucky to have her in this school district for as long as we did,” Smith said.
Superintendent Michael Matsuda said he had an opportunity to speak with Piercy shortly before her death and she told him that she was “very thankful to God for 80 years of health.”
“Unfortunately, in the last few months she was given this cancer, but she was very grateful to the entire district and there’s so much love that went out to her,” Matsuda said.
Piercy also served on the Cypress City Council from 1996 to 2004, including as the mayor in 2000 and mayor pro tem in 1999 and 2004.
Over the years, she served on various boards across Orange County, including the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program, Anaheim Sister City Commission, Orange County Sanitation Board of Directors, the Orange County Library Board and the Orange County Fire Authority.
A funeral service is planned for Piercy at 10:30 a.m. on May 30 at Saint Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress.
She is survived by her two daughters and six grandchildren.
The AUHSD board will make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy, which represents Trustee Area 5. The appointee will serve through the November general election when the seat will appear on the ballot.
Applications are now being accepted, those interested should contact Christina Bevins in the superintendent’s office at 714-999-5698. Expressions of interest must be made no later than May 24, John Bautista, an AUHSD spokesperson said.
Applicants must be registered voters and reside within the district’s Trustee Area 5.
On May 28, information packets will be sent to those who have expressed an interest in filling the vacancy. Completed candidate information packets, including all supporting documentation, must be returned by June 5. On June 6, a public hearing will be held to gather comments about the candidates.
A special board meeting to interview candidates for the provisional appointment will be held on June 11 and the appointment of the candidates is set to take place on June 13 at the regularly scheduled board meeting.
The district is required to fill the seat by July 5.
The Anaheim Union High School District serves all or parts of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma and Stanton. It oversees eight junior high schools, eight high schools and one alternative school.
