FIRST 5 Tulare County Commissioners
Tulare County Office of Education
In her role as administrator of Early Childhood Education at Tulare County Office of Education, Julie Berk oversees several early learning programs and initiatives, including the Child Care and Development Local Planning Council (LPC); the Early Stars Quality Rating and Improvement System, the California State Preschool Programs, as well as the Tulare County Head Start Program.
Prior to her current position, Mrs. Berk taught a special day class before moving to general education to teach kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 4th & 5th grades. She also was a principal in Visalia Unified School District for 18 years.
Mrs. Berk holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Professional Clear Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential. In addition, she earned a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision as well as an Administrative Credential.
Most importantly, Julie has been married to her husband Steve for 25 years and they are the proud parents of two children, Quinton and Courtney.
Tulare County Supervisor, District II
Supervisor Pete Vander Poel III serves as Tulare County Supervisor representing District Two, which includes the City of Tulare, the communities of Allensworth, Alpaugh, Earlimart, Pixley, Teviston, Tipton, Waukena, and surrounding rural areas. He was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2008.
Supervisor Vander Poel was born and raised in Tulare County, where he now lives happily with his wife Ashley and three children, Pete John, Emmilene, and James. He graduated Valedictorian from Tulare Union High School, and went on to graduate Cum Laude from the College of Honors of the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a minor in Accounting.
Supervisor Vander Poel represents the Board of Supervisors on numerous local and state governmental bodies. (Click here to learn more)
He serves as Chairman to the City of Tulare Redevelopment Oversght Board; President of the San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority; Chairman of the Tulare County Audit Committee; and Chairman of the Tulare County Water Commission.
UCSF School of Medicine, Fresno Medical Education Program
Christine A. Nelson, MD has more than 40 years of experience practicing pediatrics in a variety of settings and positions. She spent most of her professional career in Southern California before coming to Visalia in 2002. She was a pediatric hospitalist at Kaweah Delta Medical Center and a member of Sequoia Pediatric Group, Inc. until early 2017. She has returned to teaching and mentoring medical students and residents as a member of the full time faculty in pediatrics at UCSF Fresno in May, 2017.
Dr. Nelson received her BS and MD degrees from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her pediatric training through University of California, Irvine. She spent many years teaching medical students and residents as a full time faculty member of UCI’s Department of Pediatrics, based first at UCI, then later at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, where she also held several administrative positions.
Dr. Nelson then left hospital-based pediatrics to practice general pediatrics in Long Beach until relocating to Tulare County.
Agency Director Tulare County
Health and Human Services Agency
Donna has over 28 years of experience working in public service and holds a degree in Human Services with an emphasis on sociology. She has worked in a leadership role within the Human Services branch overseeing TulareWORKS and previously served in the capacity of the Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder programs.
Donna brings a wealth of knowledge and experience assisting her in developing and implementing an array of programs and services that provide safety net and healthcare supports serving children, families, and individuals. She is involved and committed to addressing homelessness here in Tulare County and values internal and external partnerships.
She strongly supports treating the whole person through a coordinated care delivery model and her goals and objectives aligns with the agency’s vision of “Healthy children and adults, supportive families and thriving communities
Megan Ide, D.D.S.
Visalia, CA
Megan is a native Visalian and 1989 graduate of Mt. Whitney High School. She graduated from University of Berkley, University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, and completed her General Practice Residency at University Medical Center Fresno earning her certification in hospital dentistry including sedation cases.
Megan has practiced dentistry at Megan Ide, D.D.S. in Visalia for the last 24 years. She is a member of the Tulare-Kings Dental Society and participates in community education and community dental care events.
Megan Ide was appointed to the First 5 Commission on April 5, 2022. In her personal time, she enjoys running, gardening, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two college age children, Will and Emma.
Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency
Karen Elliott is the Public Health Director for the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). She oversees several programs including Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), County Health Clinics, California Children’s Services, Maternal Child Adolescent Health, Environmental Health, Immunizations and many other public health and prevention programs.
Karen began her career with HHSA in 2001. She has held a variety of increasingly responsible roles within Public Health, Mental Health and Fiscal Operations. She participates on the San Joaquin Valley Public Health Consortium which looks at the social determinants of health to address the barriers that influence positive outcomes in the community’s overall health and well-being. She actively participated and contributed to Tulare County’s Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan.
Mrs. Elliott has been instrumental in revamping service delivery in the county health care centers and promoted the effort of the Visalia Health Care Center in being recognized as a Patient Centered Medical Home.