Commission Vacancies Announcement

President of the Board of Supervisors David J. Canepa announced that applications are
being accepted for appointment to the First 5 San Mateo County. There are currently three (3)
positions representing: Public Member, each to commence January 1, 2022. 

The Public Member includes the following categories: recipients of project services included in First 5 San
Mateo County’s Strategic Plan; educators specializing in early childhood development;
representatives of a local child care resource or referral agency or a local child care coordinating
group; representatives of a local organization for prevention or early intervention for families at risk;
representatives of community-based organizations that have the goal of promoting nurturing and
early childhood development; representatives of local school districts; and representatives of local
medical pediatric or obstetric associations or societies, and parents/caregivers of young children 

To be eligible, applicants must be a resident of the County of San Mateo.

Read the full announcement

Online Application

Headshot of Kitty Lopez

Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2013, focusing on strategic investing, community leadership, policy and advocacy development for young children, 0-5, and their families.

Kitty has served as Co-Chair of the Advisory Body for Build Up for San Mateo County Children’s Initiative, with Board of Supervisor, Dave Pine, since 2018.  Congressman Kevin Mullin is Honorary Co-Chair.  This initiative was established to preserve, grow, and increase the number of early care sites in San Mateo County.  

Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of San Mateo County’s leading Core Service Agencies and safety-net nonprofits serving low-income families and individuals with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2013. 

Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in southern California and San Francisco and was a consultant in schools with children who have autism and special needs. Additionally, Kitty worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center in San Francisco and psychiatric hospital for children and youth in San Diego.  Kitty’s roots in supporting children began as a 16-year-old volunteer at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles where she taught swimming to children and adults with visual impairments.

She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving as Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Event Center, and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club.  She is currently serving as Past President of the First 5 Association of California. On March 2022, Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin selected Kitty Lopez as the 2022 Assembly District 22 Woman of the Year.