Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles school board has elected Jackie Goldberg to serve as school board president this year.
A longtime educator, Goldberg taught high school for 17 years in the Compton Unified School District and is now in her second stint as a Los Angeles Unified School District school board member. She also has served on the Los Angeles City Council and in the state Assembly and was a professor at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education.
“I’m honored to be elected by my colleagues to lead the school board as we continue the hard work of helping all of our students academically achieve,” Goldberg said. “My number one goal is for every student to realize their potential and for every adult in our district to play their part.”
Scott M. Schmerelson was elected board vice president. A career educator like Goldberg, Schmerelson spent almost four decades as a teacher, counselor and school administrator before being elected to the school board in 2015. He is committed to making a difference for students and neighborhood public schools.
“I am honored to serve as vice president of the L.A. Unified Board of Education this year, alongside board President Jackie Goldberg and my fellow board members,” Schmerelson said. “I trust that we will continue working to improve the conditions for student learning in our schools and working collaboratively with our superintendent, our staff and our community partners.”
Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho congratulated the new board leaders, adding, “there is much work to be done and I look forward to working with them and all board members to provide the resources and opportunities our students need to succeed. Together, we will ensure that every Los Angeles Unified student graduates ready for the world.”
“Jackie Goldberg’s experience and commitment to our public schools and our students is unparalleled. I look forward to her leadership as board president,” new board member Rocío Rivas said. “Scott Schmerelson has provided steady leadership to the board and I am excited about his role as vice president to continue strengthening our public schools for all students.”
Board member Kelly Gonez said Goldberg and Schmerelson both have a deep commitment to the students, staff and families of in the school district.
“I look forward to continuing to work and partner with [them] … toward achieving the adopted board goals for student progress — increasing college and workforce readiness, closing equity gaps and ensuring social-emotional wellness in our schools,” Gonez said.
Goldberg was first elected to the Los Angeles school board in 1983, serving two terms. She was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1993, becoming the first openly gay member of the council.
She was elected to the state Assembly in 2000, serving in Sacramento for six years.
She returned to the school board in 2019, winning a special election to replace Ref Rodriguez that year and then winning a full four-term the following year.
Board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said Goldberg is deeply committed to equitable policies and practices, “including grading, high-quality instruction and community schools.”
“I look forward to her leadership and bringing her decades of educational expertise, strength and heart towards accelerating educational opportunities for all [district] scholars. I also want to congratulate board member Scott Schmerelson as our new Board Vice President and chair of the Committee of the Whole. He is an advocate for inclusive decision-making, prioritizing the voices of our families, school staff members and special education community for a better future for all of our students.”
Goldberg represents the 5th District, which extends from Hollywood to Southeast Los Angeles County.
Schmerelson represents the 3rd District, which includes most of the West San Fernando Valley.
