PACIFICA SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE
Tiffany Button
She/Her | 4-year term
Biotech Leader. Pacifica Parent. Proven Problem Solver.
Strong Leadership
Accountability. Action. Engagement.
"In this critical moment for our district, strong leadership is essential. Pacifica schools deserve accountable leaders who will ask tough questions, listen with empathy, and take responsibility for results".
Tiffany's Priorities
Provide strong, accountable leadership
Be engaged
Provide meaningful board oversight of district decisions while holding the administration accountable for results.
Be Informed
Ask the questions needed to fully understand complex issues.
Take action
Move beyond identifying problems to implementing solutions.
Restore financial stability and build a sustainable future
Strategize
Build from existing financial stabilization efforts and ensure they include concrete action steps.
Be informed
Understand the impact of declining enrollment and changing funding realities
Be deliberate
Evaluate district operations, programs, and resources to make responsible decisions while protecting educational opportunities.
Reconnect the board with our school communities
Listen to understand
Build stronger relationships by listening directly to the people who make school work - teachers, classified staff, families, and students.
Stay connected
Create more meaningful communication between the board and school communities.
Protect what works
Preserve the strengths that make Pacifica schools special, including school choice and individualized school communities
About Tiffany Button
Why I’m Running for School Board
This is a critical moment for the Pacifica School District. We face serious financial challenges that threaten the stability of our classrooms, and restoring community trust will require absolute transparency, fiscal accountability, and clear, honest communication.
I am stepping forward to run for Pacifica School Board because our district needs leaders who will ask tough questions, listen carefully to our community, and make thoughtful, data-driven decisions. My goal is to provide oversight to ensure a stable future for every student by building upon what makes Pacifica's educational system so special: our dedicated teachers and school staff, highly valued school choice, and student focused learning environments.
Biotech Leader. Pacifica Parent.
Proven Problem Solver.
My Story in Pacifica
Like many in our community, my family and I took a winding road to Pacifica. Originally from the East Coast, I was born in Ithaca, New York, and earned my BS in Biology with minors in Psychology and Chemistry from SUNY Cortland. I started my biotech career outside Philadelphia, where I met my husband, Dan Stephan. After we married, we knew the West Coast was where we wanted to set down roots. The Bay Area completely won us over on our first visit, and we began planning our move immediately.
After living in San Ramon and Fremont, we searched for a permanent community to plant deep roots for our family. In 2017, Pacifica became that perfect place.
My husband and I are the proud parents of two daughters, Paityn and Olivia Stephan. Paityn is beginning her senior year at Mercy High School Burlingame, and Olivia is entering as a Mercy freshman. Between the two of them, our family has experienced the rich educational diversity of four Pacifica School District campuses—Sunset Ridge, Vallemar, Ocean Shore, and Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School.
Having navigated multiple schools across the district as a parent, I deeply understand the unique strengths, vibrant cultures, and individual needs of our neighborhood schools.
Professional Discipline & Leadership
For over 22 years, I have worked in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including 13 years at Genentech in South San Francisco. Currently, I serve as a Director in our Quality organization, leading a dedicated team of 14 Quality Engineers. After several years at a consulting company outside Philadelphia, I gained invaluable experience at a San Jose biotech startup managing complex technical systems, tight budget constraints, and solving creative challenges.
Working in heavily regulated life science industries has instilled in me a deep commitment to compliance, risk management, and objective analysis. Throughout my career, I have managed complex budgets, partnered across major organizational networks on large-scale capital projects, and provided rigorous regulatory oversight at clinical and commercial stages. Critically, my professional background has forged an unwavering "speak up" value set—giving me the courage and skill to hold leadership accountable, ask tough questions to executives at all levels, and stand up for structural integrity.
Beyond the Ballot
When I’m not working or advocating for our schools, my family and I love to travel and explore. You can frequently find me cooking at home, staying active, or hiking the beautiful coastal trails right here in Pacifica.
I am also deeply passionate about animal welfare and actively volunteer as a foster caregiver for a local Pacifica rescue organization, opening our home to rescue kittens, puppies, and mama cats to help them find loving forever families.