Frances Baez, Ph.D. is the Chief Academic Officer of Los Angeles Unified serving more than 460,000 students in the nation’s second largest, diverse school district. Dr. Frances Baez has served school communities on behalf of students for more than 28 years as a Teacher, Principal, Director, and Local District Superintendent. Frances's goal is to eliminate obstacles for students to achieve in Pre-K-12 and help them achieve their dreams.

 

213-745-1900

 

 

 

Debe Loxton is the Executive Director for the Beyond the Bell Branch. Beyond the Bell is responsible for before and after school expanded learning, academic intervention, outdoor education, music and entertainment education, academic decathlon, and civic center programs. The focus of Beyond the Bell is to bring year-round enriching and engaging opportunities to students TK -12 helping to support the goal of LAUSD to ensure all students are read for the world.
                        

 

213-241-2568

 

 

Paul Ishimaru is the Senior Director of Multimedia and Learning Systems for Los Angeles Unified. With over 40 years providing professional development solutions and with 32 years focused on online learning development and implementation, Paul build solutions directly impacting students, families and employees. He is also responsible for the Graphic Design team which creates both print and digital designs promoting the new Los Angeles Unified brand. Additionally, for the last 15 years, Paul has enabled and promoted outreach to students, families, employee and community through the administration of the District’s Blackboard Connect mass notification system.
                        

 

213-241-4822

 

 

Christina Rico has served the LAUSD stakeholders for nearly 25 years.  She began her career at her alma mater Gage Middle School as a Social Science teacher, and later served as a Bilingual Coordinator and Title I Coordinator. In her administrative career, she served as Assistant Principal, Stevenson Middle School; Principal, Hollenbeck Middle School; Director, Educational Options; Director, Reed Program; Instructional Director – Local District East; Operations Coordinator – Local District South; Staff Relations Field Director; and currently supporting the Division of Instruction as Director of Instructional Operations.

 

213-241-4822

 

 

Monica Carazo has served the students of Los Angeles for 22 years. She specializes in public and media relations and has expertise in project management, community engagement, events, and media planning. Monica has developed and led districtwide communication and awareness campaigns and implemented and managed complex initiatives to improve student attendance, enrollment, and parental engagement outcomes. Currently, she serves as the Special Assistant to the Chief Academic Officer and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton.
                        

 

213-241-8222

 

 

Titus Campos is thrilled to serve as the Interim-Administrator for the Arts Education Branch. Prior to teaching, Titus appeared in several musical theater and opera productions in the greater Los Angeles area.  Mr. Campos has more than 28 years of experience as an educator within the Los Angeles Unified School District.  His children’s book, Muffler Man, was a finalist for the Tomás Rivera Children’s Book Award.  Mr. Campos has served on various non-profits including Reading Partners, SPARK L.A. and the Police Activity League for LAPD.  In 2015, Mr. Campos received the “Central Office Administrator of the Year” from the Association of California School Administrators and in 2019 received the “School Support Administrator of the Year” award from the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles.  Mr. Campos has served as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Instructional Director, Community of Schools Administrator and Administrator of Operations.  Finally, Mr. Campos taught master level courses in literacy development at CSULA for eight years as well as a course on leadership at UCLA for another eight years.
                        

 

213-241-7510

 

 

Brenda Pensamiento is a proud alumni and parent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) where she has served in multiple capacities from teacher assistant, teacher, counselor, coordinator, assistant principal and  principal over the course of her nearly 30-year career with the District. In her current role as Administrator of School Counseling Services she hopes to expand opportunities for all students, to help be the best version of themselves and graduate ready for life after high school.  
                        

 

213-241-8754

 

 

Esther Dabagyan emigrated from Armenia in 1987 and has lived in Los Angeles since then. She strives to empower students and educators and during her 20 years as teacher, coach and principal, has championed Linked Learning and Pilot schools. Esther Dabagyan is currently the Administrator of Career Technical Education and Linked Learning where she services close to 60,000 students who participate in career pathway programs in preparation for career and college.
                        

 

213-241-5333

 

 

Elizabeth Bernal, Ed.D., serves as the Administrator of Elementary Instruction for the Los Angeles Unified School District, bringing experience from previous roles serving as an Administrator of Instruction, Community of Schools Administrator, Principal, Assistant Principal, and Instructional Coach.

 

213-241-5333

 

 

Dr. Chiae Byun-Kitayama is an Administrator of Middle School Instruction in the Division of Instruction.   Since 1989, Dr. Kitayama has served as a bilingual teacher, Principal, and Director in the District.  Currently, she supports middle school instruction and policies, and collaborates with the Secondary Mathematics, Science, STEAM, and Intervention teams to prepare all students in the District to be college, career, and life ready.
                            

 

213-241-5333

 

 

Sandra Gephart Fontana has served the students, families and school communities of LAUSD for 30 years as a Teacher (Special Education and History/Social Science), Coordinator, History/Social Science Specialist, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director, Local District Administrator of Instruction, and now, Division of Instruction Administrator of Instruction for High School.  She is the proud parent of two LAUSD graduates.  Sandra’s passion is ensuring that all students receive the resources and support they need to graduate ready for the world.  In particular, she envisions that all students will graduate from LAUSD high schools A-G ready, with a clear plan for next steps, and at least one successful college experience.
                        

 

213-241-5333

 

 

Dr. Justin Lauer has served in multiple capacities from a middle school teacher, dean, options principal and a middle school principal over the course of his nearly 20-year career with the District. Currently, he serves as Director of Middle School Instruction and oversees Social-Emotional Learning for the district.

 

213-241-5533

 

 

Adriana Trejo has served the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for over 21 years as a High School Math Teacher, a Principal, and in a number of out-of-classroom/coordinator positions. Her passion for equity and access has been the driving force to ensure all students receive the best educational experience. Currently, she serves as the Director of High School Instruction, supporting the development of high-quality professional development, district policy and curriculum to build capacity and prepare students to achieve their dreams. 

 

213-241-5533

 

 

Tyra Henderson has served the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1997. She began her career as an Elementary Teacher and has served in various roles including Instructional Coach, Coordinator, Assistant Principal, Principal, and School Support Administrator. She currently serves as the Director of Elementary Instruction and has dedicated her career to ensuring equity and access for students at all levels throughout the District.

 

213-241-4822

 

 

Cora has demonstrated a deep commitment to the children of Los Angeles Unified with over 32 years of service across the district. Cora has served students in the most densely populated and economically impacted, urban schools in communities such as Watts and the southeast area of Los Angeles Unified School District. Throughout her career, Cora has served in key roles positively affecting the lives of children. Cora has served students as teacher, and principal for 23 years supporting three school communities. Currently Cora serves as the Director the Community Schools Initiative where she leads the implementation and growth of community schools within Los Angeles Unified.  Cora’s dream is to see every Los Angeles Unified family have the opportunity to enroll in an LAUSD Community School where shared governance, distributive leadership, and mutual accountability are the aim.
                        

 

213-241-5218

 

 

Dr. Alexander’s passion is to make a positive difference in the lives of L.A. Unified students. She is a warrior for equity and access, and relentless in securing resources for District youth. Ms. Alexander began her career with L.A. Unified as a middle school history teacher in 1987 and since then has worked in all aspects of educational leadership.  Her energy for building strong programs, collaborating with partners, and maintaining college-going cultures drives the A-G team’s mission for every child to realize his or her aspirations.

 

213-241-5532

 

 

 

213-241-2467

 

 

Vernail has served Los Angeles Unified for more than 20 years as a Chief of Staff to a Board of Education Member, Charter Schools Operations Coordinator, Program and Policy Specialist, and Special Assistant to the Chief Academic Officer.  Vernail has led and managed districtwide initiatives across the organization from the Facilities Services Division, District Operations, and Office of the Superintendent.  Vernail holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Saint Paul's College and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. He also is a certified facilities management professional and holds an FMP certification from the International Facilities Management Association. 

 

 

213-241-5333

 

 

 Kimberly Balala serves as the Administrative Coordinator for Library & Textbook Support. Having held roles as a History Teacher, Teacher Librarian, Specialist, and Program Coordinator, Kimberly is dedicated to ensuring every student has access to high-quality instructional materials. Recognizing the profound impact of libraries, Kimberly views them as more than sources of knowledge but as enchanting spaces where curiosity flourishes and the groundwork for lifelong learning is established. Grounded in a belief in the transformative power of education, Kimberly passionately works towards creating an environment where each student can thrive, tapping into the limitless wonders of knowledge facilitated by amazing libraries.

 

213-241-3513

 

 

John Han is the Administrator of Beyond the Bell for Los Angeles Unified School District. Having worked over eleven years in the Expanded Learning field and fourteen years at a school site, John has provided high quality programming to the students and families of the Los Angeles Unified School District. As the Administrator for Beyond the Bell, he helps lead a team that serves students in grades transitional kindergarten through twelfth grade District-wide. These programs operate every school day, weekends and during off-track times.

 

213-241-2639

 

 

Dr. Bethsaida A. Castillo is the Director, Secondary Academic Intervention Programs, for the Beyond the Bell Branch of the Los Angeles Unified School District. With over 30 years as an educator, Betsy has worked as a classroom teacher, school principal, and currently, as a central office administrator. She has worked for the Beyond the Bell Branch since 2014.  In her current role, Betsy oversees Summer Term and the Title I Intervention Program (TIIP), which provide high school students with opportunities for credit recovery and intervention.  She also supports the Academic Decathlon and Pentathlon programs, which are academic competitions for high school and middle school students, respectively.  The Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Grant is another program that Betsy supports.  TUPE provides education opportunities for students in the area of smoking cessation.  Finally, Betsy supports the Music and Entertainment Education Program, which is best known for coordinating performances of the All-District Honor Marching Band at the Tournament of Roses Parade, Kingdom Day Parade, among many other events throughout the year.

 

213-241-7900

 

 

Ana Estevez is the Director, Elementary Academic Intervention Programs, for the Beyond the Bell Branch of the Los Angeles Unified School District. With over 26 years as an educator, Ana has worked as a classroom teacher, school site coordinator, local district administrator, elementary school principal, and currently, as a central office administrator. She has worked for the Beyond the Bell Branch since 2020. In her current role, Ana oversees the Title I Intervention Program (TIIP) and Summer School, TK-8, Program, which provide elementary and middle school students with opportunities to receive academic intervention. She also supports the Outdoor Education program, which offers immersive science experiences to LA Unified students by providing hands-on, overnight outdoor learning that brings the classroom to life. Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) for grant-funded programs is another area that Ana supports. Finally, Ana supports with Beyond the Bell’s corporate partners and events, such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), and USC.