LAUSD

Cynthia E. Griffin  |   OW Managing Editor
Apr 5 2012

Named ‘Distinguished’ schools

 As schools nationwide struggle with shrinking budgets and injecting academic rigor into curriculums, California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson last week announced that 387 exemplary public schools were named 2012 Distinguished schools for their innovative education programs that both encourage students to learn and help close the achievement gap.

Six of the awardees this year are local schools from the Compton, Inglewood, Hawthorne and Los Angeles unified school districts.

Mar 1 2012

Superintendent announces plans to revisit all discipline cases

A Theodore Roosevelt High School Spanish teacher was free on bail this week following her arrest on suspicion of having sex with two students—the latest in a string of sex-abuse cases that have bedeviled the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Gabriela Cortez, 42, was arrested Feb. 22 and booked on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, said Montebello police Lt. Luis Lopez. She posted $140,000 bail and was ordered to appear in court March 22.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Feb 16 2012

Union hopes to see most Miramonte teachers returned

With the Los Angeles Unified School District reeling from three recent revelations of sexual improprieties with students comes the latest allegations from John C. Fremont High School in South Los Angeles.

Alain Salas, 40, a teacher’s aide and coaching assistant, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of lewd acts and one count of contacting a minor for a sexual offense, according to officials. The arrest was made Monday by members of the FBI’s Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement team.

Cynthia E. Griffin  |   OW Managing Editor
Feb 9 2012

Daily conversations can help

The recent revelations of alleged long-term sexual abuse and inappropriate conduct by Los Angeles Unified School District personnel involving students has shocked the city, state and nation.

But even more devastating, it has shocked parents and made many ask the question: “How can I keep my child safe at school?”

Veteran licensed clinical psychologist Steve Ambrose recommends that parents have a conversation with their child about how it went at school.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Feb 9 2012

Inappropriate contact with students brings educators under fire

A female teacher is now being implicated in the sexual misconduct investigation that surfaced at Miramonte Elementary School last week.

The school made headlines when two male teachers, Mark Berndt and Martin Springer, were arrested; one for allegedly feeding students his semen and the other for fondling students in his second-grade class.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
California
Yvette Hollingsworth was recently named chief compliance officer for Wells Fargo & Co. Hollingsworth, who most recently served as managing director and global head of operations compliance and financial crimes compliance & risk management for Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, will begin her new role on June 1, 2012. Hollingsworth will be based in San Francisco, and will report to Caryl Athanasiu, executive vice president and chief operational risk officer in the corporate risk group. As chief compliance officer, Hollingsworth will be responsible for ensuring that all areas of the company meet compliance management responsibilities and abide by all applicable laws and regulations. Her team will continue to provide independent oversight of business-based compliance management activities.
District of Columbia
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Los Angeles attorney Paul Watford to serve on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: “It is great news that the Senate has confirmed Paul Watford, an exceptionally talented attorney, to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has a breadth of experience as a former prosecutor and a top appellate litigator and will make an excellent addition to the federal bench. However, I am very disappointed that more of my Republican colleagues did not join us in backing this highly qualified nominee.” When Watford is sworn in, he will be only the second African American serving on the Ninth Circuit.