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 toLos 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.

Suzanne Criley
Human Resources Director

William Seguritan
Technology Consultant

Middle School Staff

Patty Gould
Middle School Principal

Christian Chavarria
Middle School Assistant Principal

Yolanda Molina
Office Manager

Darlene Ortiz
Office Associate

Educators:

6th Grade:

Miguel Arriaga
Science Teacher

Rachel Garfield
Social Studies Teacher

Nathan Green
Language Arts

Ben Liepman
Math Teacher

7th Grade:

Emily Colombier
Math Teacher

Amreen Karmali
Science Teacher

Shari Martenson
Social Studies teacher

Adolfo Rodas
Language Arts Teacher

8th Grade:

Angela Brizuela
Science Teacher

Will Echeverria
Math Teacher

Jessica Rolapp
Language Arts Teacher

Joseph Salas
Social Studies Teacher

Physical Education:

Albert Dupree
6th and 7th

Cornell Stephenson
7th and 8th

High School Staff

Linda Igoe
High School Principal

Mark Campbell
Assistant Principal

Staff:

Carol Aguirre
After School Program Coordinator

Cindy Baez
Family Outreach Coordinator

Erin Kim
College Counselor

Gloria Velasquez
Office Manager

Juan Zepeda                                                                                                   Facilities Manager

Educators:

Taiwan Alvarado
English Teacher

Marissa Cowell
Science Teacher

Ashley Daly
Math Teacher

Tanya Jones

Art Teacher

Karla Marquez
Social Studies & Government Teacher

Sonia Martinez
Spanish Teacher

Brian Mayer
Math Teacher

Claudia Monreal
Spanish Teacher

Philip Nova
Science Teacher

Adam Panucci
English Teacher

Phyllis Rosen
History Teacher

Jill Wery
Math & Science Teacher

Chanel Young Smith
Phys. Ed. & Health Teacher