News release | Mindy Tirapelle

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 13, 2025)―The Teachers' Retirement Board reelected Denise Bradford chair and Karen Yamamoto vice chair at its May meeting. 

The 12-member board nominates and elects its chair and vice chair annually. The chair and vice chair provide board leadership, direction and policy development for CalSTRS, the largest educator-only pension fund in the world.

Bradford began her first term as chair last fiscal year and served on the Audits and Risk Management, Benefits and Services, Board Governance and Investment committees. Yamamoto was vice chair in 2024–25 and served on the Appeals, Benefits and Services, Board Governance and Investment committees.

Bradford is an elementary school teacher with the Saddleback Valley Unified School District in southern California and was first elected to serve on the board in 2019. She has been the president of the Saddleback Valley Educators Association and chair of the California Teachers' Association Retirement Committee. She is also part of the CTA board of directors.

"As a lifelong educator and proud CalSTRS member, I am honored to be reelected as board chair. I deeply value the trust my colleagues have placed in me and remain committed to safeguarding the retirement security of California's educators," Bradford said. "I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the board, staff and stakeholders to ensure CalSTRS continues to deliver on its promise with integrity, transparency and a long-term vision that serves both current and future members."

Yamamoto has served on the board since 2017. She is a retired elementary school teacher from Sacramento and taught kindergarten, first and second grades for 15 years in West Sacramento before retiring in 2007. She was a member of the California Department of Education's Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission from 1999–2003, acting as chair in 2003.

"I am so grateful to remain in this position and will continue to be a voice of strength and compassion," Yamamoto said. "I am excited and proud to have the ongoing trust of my colleagues as we work toward fulfilling our pension promise."

Media contact

Mindy Tirapelle
Phone: 916-414-1440
M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. PDT
Newsroom@CalSTRS.com

About CalSTRS

CalSTRS provides a secure retirement to more than 1 million members and beneficiaries whose CalSTRS-covered service is not eligible for Social Security participation. On average, members who retired in 2022–23 had 25 years of service and a monthly benefit of $5,141. Established in 1913, CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world with $349.5 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025. CalSTRS demonstrates its strong commitment to long-term sustainability principles in its annual Sustainability Report.