The State of Education in Los Angeles and Beyond
Champions of education joined together to plant seeds of promise and support for students.
Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho and Dr. Pedro Noguera in conversation.
"At the root of the student achievement gap is – a love gap."
Stu Semigran
Dozens of luminaries in the field of education, along with passionate supporters of education, including Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, and Dr. Pedro Noguera, Dean of USC's Rossier School of Education, met at a private home in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 22, 2023. Each had been invited to participate in a dynamic discussion about the numerous issues facing thousands of public school students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and elsewhere. Jointly sponsored by Sara Nichols, EduCare board member Susan Saltz (President of the Gary Saltz Foundation), and EduCare Foundation, the gathering provided an opportunity to bring brilliant minds and hearts together for mutual inspiration. <Read more>
Guests arrived to the mellow beat of a jazz sextet, the outstanding Herbie Hancock Combo from North Hollywood High School. During the afternoon, student poet Jasmine Minchez, courtesy of GetLit, performed a different kind of music with her sparkling spoken word performance.
The heart and soul of the event centered around the topics that drew people together. What are the most critical issues facing our students, and how best can these issues be addressed? How can afterschool programs, like EduCare's, be strengthened? How do we best address absenteeism?
Top row, left to right: Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, Dr. Pedro Noguera; Stu Semigran, José Navarro, Emily Cummins-Polk, Alex Perez, Ana Ponce; Bottom row, left to right: Sara Nichols; Susan Saltz; Stu Semigran
A lively dialogue between Superintendent Carvalho and Dr. Noguera started the afternoon. Their discussion was wide-ranging, and covered the challenges presented by a school district the size of LAUSD, with the enormous diversity of students and multiple approaches to education itself.
Dr. Noguera led the discussion off by recalling his first encounter with EduCare. He visited Social Justice Humanitas Academy (SJHA), where EduCare's ACE Initiative was in place. He learned that not only did the school have an outstanding graduation rate, but that there had not been a fight on campus in years, and that there was a waiting list to get into SJHA. He was curious why SJHA had such outstanding results and wondered how to implement these successful strategies on other campuses. He asked Superintendent Carvalho how effective strategies could better be shared among schools.
Superintendent Carvalho responded by stating his goal to create a more coherent educational system by identifying best practices throughout the district, and sharing those among schools. He has organized "field trips" for principals to visit and learn from high-performing LAUSD schools. Superintendent Carvalho firmly believes that education is not a one-size-fits-all system; it must be more flexible, matching cognitive development to teaching practices – recognizing that every student learns in a unique way. ("A school of one for everyone.")
"You can't educate students' minds without engaging their hearts. When you accept and understand children, their minds open."
Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho
Top row, left to right: Diane Lane (GetLit), Susan Saltz, Jasmine Minchez, Emily Cummins-Polk; Axel Perez, Daniel Almanza (Simply Wholehearted); Candace Semigran, Susan Saltz, and guest; Bottom row, left to right: Paul Cummins (Crossroads and New Roads schools), Yvonne Chan (LACOE); Ana Ponce; Jasmine Minchez during her performance
A panel conversation developed and expanded the themes introduced earlier. Moderated by Stu Semigran, President and Co-Founder of EduCare Foundation, the participants were: Dr. Ana Ponce, Executive Director of GPSN; José Navarro, Administrative Director, Birmingham Community Charter High School; Emily Cummins-Polk, Director, JUNTOS; and Axel Perez, Executive Director, Simply Wholehearted. Directed by questions from a deeply engaged audience, panelists plunged into a frank discussion of the challenges presented by limited funding and resources for public education, including afterschool and expanded learning programs. Panelists and many in the audience spoke on behalf of students, educators, and the communities they serve. They discussed mental and emotional health issues, cultural cohesion, ways to engage and inspire students, and making up for learning loss during the pandemic.
Lively conversations continued as the event came to a conclusion, while participants drifted out to the sounds of the Herbie Hancock Combo. All present agreed that this event was just the beginning of an important ongoing conversation and call to action – one that will result in a stronger, more compassionate, more successful learning environment for all our young people.
The talented Herbie Hancock Combo, a jazz sextet from North Hollywood High School
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