STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Mara Madrigal

Behind every mental health packet, every resource, every committee, you’ll find Mara Madrigal.

A doctoral student in the PK-12 Educational Leadership Ed.D. program at San Diego State University, Madrigal serves as Executive Director for Student Wellness and School Culture at the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE). She has also served as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction's designee as a commissioner on the Behavioral Health Commission of California since 2017.

These titles mean less to Madrigal, however, compared to the impact she makes doing the work. 

“Wherever I can have influence, I’m going to have influence,” Madrigal said. “If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it all the way.”

As executive director at SDCOE, she oversees programs that support students of all populations. Her main focus for the past 10 years, she says, has been mental health and wellness.

Since being on the BHSOAC, she has championed ways to integrate more opportunities for mental health care in schools while changing the narrative around it.

“Schools are so much more than academics,” Madrigal said. “We have this great opportunity to have students with us for such a long time that if we’re just talking academics, we’re missing this whole other realm of what our responsibility is to our students. It’s not just about teaching academics — it’s about teaching how to have skills to succeed in life overall. I think this is where that intersection with wellness, social and emotional learning, all really come into play.”

During the pandemic, for example, Madrigal was behind the collective efforts of SDCOE to distribute a teen mental health guide which included resources such as crisis lines, warm lines, text lines and more. The guide eventually expanded beyond San Diego County via the California Department of Education and became one of the most used resources in the state. 

Building these connections has always been an important priority for Madrigal. 

“We see an issue out there and we develop the resources or services to be able to meet the need,” Madrigal said. “This is what I pride myself on with my team, our job is to anticipate. We’re constantly looking at the data, we monitor the trends — we anticipate what our districts need and create the resources that they need before they even ask for them. 

“Our mission is to serve and support with excellence, and that’s it.”

At SDCOE, Madrigal makes it a point to immerse herself in all departments — from foster youth, homelessness, school nursing and suicide prevention, just to name a few. 

“We don’t ever divide,” Madrigal said. “We are about unifying, always. We speak to all students, and then we share resources. I don’t care what ZIP code a child lives in, I don’t care what district a child goes to, we serve all — everywhere. 

“You can download the documents and put your logo on them. It’s not about who takes the credit — it’s more about getting the resources that can save a student’s life.”

As she completes her Ed.D. at SDSU, Madrigal hopes to lead by example and inspire future mental health practitioners and leaders to prioritize mental health and wellness within the school community, not only for students but also for the staff who serve them. 

Madrigal likes to say she was born with a loud mouth and a big heart. She understands that life is hard and painful at times, and allowing yourself and others grace is huge in overcoming obstacles. 

And her work is not just another pamphlet to download, it’s a chance to save lives.

“Don’t ever chase the title, chase the mission,” she said. “It’s about really doing what’s right for our students.”