Meet the Staff of Los Angeles Leadership Academy

 

Joint Staff

 

Roger Lowenstein
Executive Director

Roger Lowenstein was compelled to found an innovative new charter school to create a remedy for students underserved by oversized schools. He is particularly interested in countering ethnic segregation in Los Angeles by creating a public space where youths from different backgrounds can come together to investigate and address social justice issues. Since leadership is currently taught most frequently and effectively to business school students who are largely from privileged backgrounds, he feels it is essential to cultivate leadership and civic engagement in students from all backgrounds, who may then become motivated to work in the public interest.

Mr. Lowenstein has been an educator for more than twenty years, teaching law at Seton Hall University in Newark, New Jersey, and at Occidental College in Los Angeles. In addition to practicing as a criminal defense attorney, he has been a television drama writer since moving to Los Angeles ten years ago. He serves on the boards of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and the Progressive Los Angeles Network. His success in political fundraising, external relations and team building also prepare him for this newest endeavor.

 

Gloria Boccato
Food Services Director

Shawn Torrence
Director of Instructional Technology

 

 

Middle School Staff

 

Andres Versage
Middle School Principal

Reina Morales
Family Services Coordinator

Erin Gasca
Office Manager

Jean Bennett
English Language Arts Teacher

Monique Childress
Science Teacher

Joanie Du
Math Teacher

Wilfredo Echeverria
Math Teacher

Maria Franco
English Language Arts Teacher

Nathan Green
English Language Arts Teacher

Shari Martenson
Social Studies Teacher

Michael Matheus
Science Teacher

Judith Rodriguez
Social Studies Teacher

Jayne Sohn
Social Studies Teacher

Cornell Stephenson
PE Teacher / Athletic Director

Stephanie Rigamat
PE Teacher

Allison Syphus
Science Teacher

Tedd Wakeman
Math Teacher

 

 

High School Staff

 

Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro
High School Principal

Ernesto Villarreal
High School Assistant Principal

Gloria Velasquez
Family Services Coordinator

Josh Maldonado
Office Manager

Elva Monreal
Counselor

Arsen Abelian
Math Teacher

Miguel Arriaga
Science Teacher

Mark Campbell
English Teacher

Christian Chavarria
English Language Development Teacher

Marissa Cowell
Science Teacher

Teresa Garcia
Social Studies Teacher

Hannah Grossman
Science Teacher

Daniel Krog
Music Teacher

Kristi Lovich
After School Program Coordinator

Learsi Martinez
English Teacher

Sonia Martinez
Spanish Teacher

Claudia Monreal
Spanish Teacher

Adam Panucci
Drama Teacher

Phyllis Rosen
English Language Arts Teacher

Zac Schoenrock
Math Teacher

Jill Wery
Math Teacher

Chanel Young
PE Teacher

 

 

Operations Staff

 

Barbara James
Office Assistant

Pablo Martinez
Custodian

Perla Melgar
Cook

Ofelia Mendez
Supervisor

Pepe Reano
Operations/Supervisor

Lucien Shapiro
Food Services Assistant

Alicia Vasquez
Cook

 

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