On Friday, December 19, Superintendent Brinda Leon, Board President Carrie Flanders and Vice President Deana Miller sent a joint message to all Brea Olinda Unified School District employees and families regarding the arrest of Board Member Christopher Becerra.
The message reads as follows:
December 19, 2025
Message to Our Community Regarding Board Member Arrest
On Behalf of the Board of Education and Superintendent
Our Brea Olinda school community has been shaken by the recent arrest of Board Member Christopher Becerra on extremely serious charges. The alleged actions of Becerra do not reflect the values of our Board, District leadership, or the dedicated work of our employees. Rather, they represent the alleged misconduct by one individual and one individual only.
A Parent Square message was sent to families and staff of the District on Dec. 18. 2025; however, we want to acknowledge—directly and personally—how disturbing and unsettling this news is for many in our community. We share the concern, the questions, and the deep care for our students, which we know families and staff are feeling right now.
While the investigation is ongoing, we want to be clear about what we know and the actions we’ve taken at this time:
- The allegations do not involve any current Brea Olinda Unified School District students.
- The initial complaint was made to the Brea Police Department, and once the District was notified, we fully cooperated and will continue to do so.
- At every step, the District has relied on the guidance of law enforcement and legal counsel to ensure actions were taken appropriately and to the limits of our legal authority.
- Based on the information known at the time and out of an abundance of caution, safety measures were implemented to ensure Becerra was not left alone with students while exercising his official duties, and appropriate monitoring occurred.
- When the investigation reached a point that allowed the District to address the matter directly with Becerra, the Board President and Superintendent did so immediately, and strongly urged him to resign.
- Upon his arrest, he was again strongly urged to submit his resignation. A resignation has not been received as of the writing of this letter.
We understand that some community members have questions about the District’s actions following notification of the complaint, particularly regarding campus access. Those concerns are understandable. Certain aspects of this situation involve confidential matters related to an active investigation, which limits what we can responsibly share at this time.
Student safety and well-being are not abstract priorities for us—they guide every decision we make as a District. That commitment is unwavering. We also want to address questions regarding Becerra’s status as a board member. Because he is an elected official and not a District employee, neither the Board nor the superintendent has the authority to remove him from office. The Board is actively consulting with legal counsel to understand what actions are available moving forward, and we will continue to share updates with the community as appropriate.
Even in moments like this, we remain proud of our students and staff and the professionalism shown across our schools each day. Our work continues, rooted in our shared commitment to safety, care, and trust.
We are grateful for the strength and compassion of our community. Together, we remain committed to leading with transparency, integrity, and an unwavering focus on students as we move forward.
Signed,
Brinda C. Leon
Superintendent
Carrie Flanders
Board President
Deana Miller
Board Vice President/Clerk