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.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Empathy, Leadership, Critical Thinking
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. Strong reading and comprehension skills to extract key information from documents and reports.
2. Ability to ask insightful questions to staff and other stakeholders to ensure informed decision-making.
3. Empathy and the ability to understand and consider diverse perspectives, especially when making decisions that affect a large and varied population, such as students and their families
Transcript
What sort of skills are most important for a job like yours?
I think any board member reads a lot. Reading for key information and being able to ask really good questions of staff is a key responsibility. This ensures you're making good decisions on behalf of your constituents.
Empathizing with various perspectives is also important. I serve a really diverse and large population, about 600,000 residents in my district, who often disagree on important issues.
So, being willing to listen and hear ideas different from my own, but ultimately making decisions that I think will serve children best, is a challenge. I think that's the biggest skill a good school board member needs to develop.