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.
Executive/Leadership, Overcoming Challenges, Motivational Stories, Intersectionality, Political Decision-Making
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
Video Highlights
1. Tanya's diverse background, including being first-generation college and having a multiracial identity, has shaped her perspective and approach to decision-making.
2. Her experience navigating different socioeconomic and cultural communities allows her to represent a wide range of constituents effectively.
3. Tanya emphasizes the importance of considering diverse perspectives in tackling complex issues and making impactful decisions, which is particularly relevant to a career in school administration or public service.
Transcript
As someone who holds your own identity, how has that impacted the way you navigate your career?
My mom immigrated to the country when she was little and went to high school, but not to college. My dad's dad, however, went to college. So, on one side, I'm a first-generation college student, and on the other, my grandfather has a doctorate degree.
This has been a significant part of my identity. I am both Latina and white. I grew up with a working-class mom, while my dad had a bit more money. This led to a split identity in many ways growing up, which I believe influenced my career trajectory.
Now, as a board member, I get to serve people with many intersectional identities. Sometimes these pieces can feel at odds, especially with decision-making. It's challenging to represent the vast spectrum from very poor to very wealthy communities in my district, and from Black and Brown communities to Asian communities.
My own multi-perspective identity makes it important for me to keep this in mind as I grapple with difficult decisions and try my best to serve the system that raised me. This is where I was a student, where I got my first job as a classroom teacher, and where I had the privilege of pushing from the outside.
Now, being on the inside and making decisions for half a million kids and twenty billion dollars feels very weighty. However, I try to keep that big perspective in mind.