General Election School Board Candidates Finalized

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

– Thomas Jefferson

Two major scandals marked the LAUSD School Board primary elections. First, the Charter School Industry candidate in BD5, Graciela “Grace” Ortiz, was sued by a student who claimed the candidate had not done enough to protect her from a sexual assault at gunpoint, something Ortiz referred to as an “unfortunate occurrence”. Then Kahllid Al-Alim, the UTLA-endorsed candidate in BD1, was outed for a Tweet saying that a book that many view as anti-Semitic should be assigned reading in LAUSD classrooms.

In the initial March 5th election results, it looked like both candidates would escape accountability for their actions. The results from those who had voted early and uncontested in-person votes showed Al-Alim and Ortiz in the lead. However, neither was near the 50% + 1 they needed to avoid a runoff.

By the next day, both candidates had lost their lead and as mail-in ballots continued to arrive they fell further behind. It is now clear that the scandals did affect the opinions of the electorate shifting the momentum to their leading opponents.

In BD3, Schmerelson has maintained the lead throughout the counting process and increased his margin of victory since the first tally but still did not earn enough votes to avoid a runoff. To secure re-election he must find a way to convince enough supporters of the eliminated candidates to vote for him instead of Dan Chang.

The following are summaries of the candidates who have progressed to the General Election on November 5, 2024:

BD1

Sherlett Hendy Newbill

(no video provided to the L.A. City Clerk)

Ballot Designation: Education Policy Advisor

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sherletthendynewbill.com/

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):

I'm Sherlett Hendy Newbill and I taught for 25 years at Dorsey High School

TEACHER, DEAN, MENTOR, COACH, MOM

Sherlett Hendy Newbill was born and raised in our community. She graduated from Susan Miller Dorsey High School, graduated from Xavier University, and returned to teach at her high school alma mater. For more than two decades, Sherlett Hendy Newbill has been a teacher, a mentor and a coach to thousands of children at Dorsey and in South LA. She is also the only candidate in the race with school-aged children - improving our schools is both a personal and professional mission.

Responses to questions about District issues: Special Education

Khallid A. Al-Alim

Ballot Designation: Community Organizer/Parent

Email: [email protected]

Website: kahllidforschoolboard.com/

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):

I am excited to be running for LAUSD School Board in Board District 1. I was born and raised in South LA and attended LAUSD Schools. I have been a parent in BD1 for 20 years. My kids have attended our community’s schools, including Crenshaw and Dorsey. I have been on the front lines fighting to STOP the privatization, reconstitutions, and co-locations in BD1, while fighting FOR Community Schools and the creation of the Black Student Achievement Plan. I am a proud union member of SEIU 721 and have always stood alongside educators and unions.

I want to tell you…

Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39 Co-Locations, Special Education, Governance.

BD3

Scott Mark Schmerelson

Ballot Designation: Teacher/Counselor/Boardmember

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.scottforlausd.org

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):

No one loves schools more than Scott. The Philadelphia native joined the LAUSD family in 1978, and rose through the ranks as a teacher, counselor and principal at Virgil, Griffith and Lawrence middle schools. He retired after leading Johnnie Cochran Middle School for 10 years. His tenure was highlighted by improved test scores, a revamped physical plan, and higher student, teacher and parent morale.

Colleagues and community members urged him to continue advocating for public education at the next level, the LAUSD School Board.

Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Governance, Student Safety.

Dan Chang

Ballot Designation: Public School Teacher

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.chang4change.org

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):

Dan Chang is a LAUSD math teacher, parent, and education non-profit leader with a 20 year track record of improving schools in Los Angeles. From teaching students pre-algebra to leading ambitious District improvement efforts, Dan is dedicated to seeing students, families, teachers and schools succeed in LAUSD.

Dan is running to be the new voice for Valley schools on the LAUSD District 3 school board.

Responses to questions about District issues: None received.

BD5

Karla Griego

Ballot Designation: Teacher/Parent

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://karlagriegoforschoolboard.com/

Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):

My name is Karla Griego. I am an immigrant and mother from Northeast Los Angeles. I have also been a teacher and fighter for public education for 19 years. I have worked with the most vulnerable populations in LAUSD, teaching special education and elementary, middle and high school. I have also worked with parents to transform and bring resources to schools. At every stage in my career, I have worked to create spaces for community input. As the first Latina in this board seat in over 30 years, I will work to hold politicians accountable and make sure community is...

Responses to questions about District issues: Special Education, PROP-39 Co-Locations, Student Safety, The Budget

Graciela “Grace” Ortiz

Ballot Designation: Teacher/City Councilmember

Email: [email protected]

Website: gracielaortiz.com

Candidates' description of their campaign (First 100 words):

Graciela Ortiz was born and raised in Huntington Park as the youngest of four siblings. Her father died when she was only six months old, so her mother raised her on her own. From a young age, Graciela took her education seriously. She began her educational career at Miles Avenue Elementary, proceeded to Gage Middle School, and graduated from Huntington Park High School in 1999 with high academic honors.

Immediately after graduating from high school, Graciela attended her dream college, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). One of her greatest accomplishments at UCLA was establishing a chapter of Hermanas…

Responses to questions about District issues: None received.

____________________________

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.