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Tanya, School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District: Advize Career Interview

A career path from after-school tutoring through Teach for America, law school, and public school management culminated in a Los Angeles Unified School District school board seat.

This individual's journey highlights the impact of systemic change in education, showcasing responsibilities including budget approval, superintendent supervision, and extensive community engagement across the nation's second-largest district.

A typical day involves meeting preparation, school visits, and tackling challenges ranging from small issues to major budgetary decisions.

Success requires strong analytical skills, empathy, and a mission-driven approach focused on student well-being.

The role's greatest rewards stem from impacting thousands of students' lives and shaping the future, despite the demanding schedule and balancing diverse viewpoints.

Entry-level positions like teaching, teacher's assistant, or after-school programs offer valuable experience, while valuable transferable skills include information analysis, opinion-backing, and strong organizational skills.

A diverse background significantly informs this individual's ability to make impactful decisions representing the broad spectrum of the student population.

This fascinating career underscores the importance of listening, building relationships, and maintaining optimism in the face of significant challenges in education.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Tanya Ortiz Franklin

School Board Member

Los Angeles Unified School District

Columbia University 2005

Loyola Marymount University, MA Elementary Education; UCLA School of Law JD, Public Interest Law & Policy, Critical Race Studies

Political Science, American Studies

Education

Education

Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student

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Career Path of a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Tanya's career path began with after-school tutoring ("my foray into teaching") through America Reads, followed by five years teaching middle school with Teach for America before a layoff during the Great Recession. This led to law school at UCLA, aiming to effect systemic change in education, culminating in work with a public school management organization and ultimately a school board position at LA Unified, the district where Tanya was a student and teacher.

Career Path of a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Main Responsibilities Of A School Board Member At Los Angeles Unified School District

Los Angeles Unified School District school board member Tanya's main responsibilities include approving the budget and supervising the superintendent, a task magnified by the district's size as "the second largest District in the country and the largest elected school board". This role involves extensive community engagement to ensure "their voice is heard in policy making," achieved through school visits, collaborations with stakeholders, and policy adjustments to best serve the district's half-million students and 80,000 employees.

Main Responsibilities Of A School Board Member At Los Angeles Unified School District

A Day In The Life Of A School Board Member At Los Angeles Unified School District

A Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member's day varies greatly, but always includes significant preparation for weekly board meetings focused on "proving budget requests" and "hearing resolutions," and involves extensive school visits to observe instruction and meet with community partners. The role demands a balance of policy work and addressing diverse challenges, ranging from "small challenges" to major budgetary decisions.

A Day In The Life Of A School Board Member At Los Angeles Unified School District

Most Important Skills for a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Tanya, a Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member, highlights the importance of "reading for key information and being able to ask really good questions" to effectively serve the diverse population of 600,000 constituents. Developing the ability to "empathize with various perspectives" and make decisions in the best interest of children are crucial skills for success in this role.

Most Important Skills for a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Favorite Parts of Being a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Tanya, a Los Angeles Unified School District board member, finds the greatest fulfillment in "making a real impact" on the lives of thousands of students within her community, leveraging the district's substantial budget to make strategic decisions that benefit them. The competitive election process and the significant responsibility of managing a "$20 billion" budget add weight to the role, but the opportunity to shape the future of so many children makes it worthwhile.

Favorite Parts of Being a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Biggest Challenges Faced by a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Being a Los Angeles Unified School District board member presents the challenge of balancing diverse opinions while prioritizing the needs of underrepresented voices; this requires "innovation and creativity," "humility," and a commitment to addressing difficult issues like declining enrollment and racial achievement gaps, rather than simply satisfying powerful interests.

Biggest Challenges Faced by a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Favorite Parts of Working in the Education Industry as a School Board Member

Tanya, a Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member, finds the greatest reward in education's ability to "make an impact on the future," believing that shaping "the minds that will take on the challenges of the future" is the most effective way to leave a positive legacy. This passion for cultivating future generations is a central theme in their career.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Education Industry as a School Board Member

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Public Education Industry, According To A School Board Member At Los Angeles Unified School District

Tanya, a Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member, identifies a "mission-driven" approach as key to thriving in education, emphasizing that success hinges on understanding the impact of one's actions on "kids and their lives and their families and their communities." This dedication to serving a greater purpose, rather than financial gain, is crucial for success in this field.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Public Education Industry, According To A School Board Member At Los Angeles Unified School District

What a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Education Industry

Tanya, a Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member, learned that maintaining "optimism about what's possible" in the face of long-standing educational challenges and the potential for incremental rather than transformational change is crucial; the reality is that educators' longevity contrasts with the shorter terms of board members, making sustained impact a significant challenge.

What a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Education Industry

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring School Board Members

Tanya, a Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member, highlights teaching as a "great first step," but also notes other entry-level options like teacher's assistant, campus aide, after-school tutoring, or coaching, all providing valuable experience connecting with children. These roles, according to Tanya, are great ways to begin a career path toward roles like school board membership.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring School Board Members

Significant Career Lesson From a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

Tanya, a Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member, emphasizes the importance of "making time to listen to others and to build relationships," even with those holding opposing views. This approach, crucial in navigating the often divisive four-three votes on the seven-member board, allows for maintaining "collegiality" and respecting the diverse perspectives within the community, ultimately serving the best interests of students.

Significant Career Lesson From a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District

College Experiences That Helped a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District Succeed

Tanya's undergraduate experience, particularly "hands-on experience through the tutoring job," and the development of transferable skills like information analysis and opinion backing proved invaluable. The surprisingly crucial skill of "maintaining a tight calendar," learned early in their academic career, continues to be essential for success in their demanding role as a Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member.

College Experiences That Helped a School Board Member at Los Angeles Unified School District Succeed

How Identity Has Influenced a School Board Member's Career at Los Angeles Unified School District

Tanya's diverse background—a "split identity" encompassing first-generation college student, Latina and white heritage, and experiences across socioeconomic classes—has profoundly shaped their career trajectory. This multi-faceted perspective informs their work as a Los Angeles Unified School District board member, enabling them to "grapple with really difficult decisions" while representing the diverse needs of "the vast ends of the spectrum" within their district.

How Identity Has Influenced a School Board Member's Career at Los Angeles Unified School District
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