Elected Executive Vice President of AFSA at its 17th Triennial Convention in July 2025, Donis Coronel carries a lifetime of dedication to public education from the San Diego community to the national stage.
Public schools and student success are in Donis’ DNA. Growing up in the San Diego Unified School District, where her mother was a school secretary and her aunt a longtime teacher, she witnessed the power of committed educators and strong school leadership. Inspired by their example, Donis dedicated her career to ensuring that every school leader has a voice, the resources to lead, and the respect they deserve to help students thrive.
Donis began her 36-year career with San Diego Unified shortly after high school, first in clerical and administrative roles for 16 years and then in management, including two decades in Labor Relations and Human Resources. As Human Resources Director, she supported nearly 20,000 employees whose work directly shaped the educational experience of San Diego’s students.
When the Administrators Association San Diego (AASD) unionized in 2009, Donis saw an opportunity to give school leaders a stronger voice and fair representation. Elected President in 2011, she worked to build a union where both certificated (credentialed) and classified (operational) members were equally valued. Upon retiring from the district in 2017, she became AASD’s full-time Executive Director, devoting herself to advocating for administrators so they could focus on what matters most—student success.
Organizing has been at the heart of Donis’ leadership. Under her direction, AASD affiliated with AFSA in 2018, becoming Local 134. She then founded the United Administrators Southern California (UASC), which now unites three unions: AASD, the Administrators Association Chula Vista (AFSA Local 145), and the Administrators Association Sweetwater Union (AFSA Local 150). Through these efforts, she has expanded the collective power of school leaders across the region, ensuring they have a seat at the table where decisions about public education are made.
From 2022 to 2025, Donis served as General Vice President of AFSA and as a member of its General Executive Board, where she chaired the union’s Resolutions Committee, shaping its policy priorities and long-term vision for school leadership nationwide. Her election as Executive Vice President reflects her unwavering belief: when school leaders are organized, empowered, and heard, students win.
Donis is passionate about her work and a steadfast supporter of unions. She believes in the principles of solidarity, fairness, and collective action to improve the lives of workers. She understands the importance of advocating for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for all members and takes the time to educate others about the benefits of union membership. Donis stands firmly against workplace injustices—whether discrimination, unsafe conditions, or unfair treatment—and champions the rights of workers to be heard, respected, and treated with dignity.
In addition to her AFSA leadership, Donis serves as Chairperson of the California Association of Urban School Administrators (CAUSA) and is a lifetime member of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), where she actively participates in legislative advocacy to strengthen public education.
Donis lives in San Diego with her husband, Rick. They cherish time with their five adult children, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. Outside of her union work, Donis gives back through volunteer service, including providing meals to families in need and hosting community gatherings that bring people together.