Read a brief biography below on each of the candidates running for the Los Alamitos Board of Education.
Read a brief biography below on each of the candidates running for the Los Alamitos Board of Education.
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Karen Russell:
Who is Karen Russell?
I am a native Californian and a product of the California school system, Kindergarten through graduate school.
I have been a member since 2004 of the Los Alamitos Unified School District Governing Board.
I am a retired teacher. I taught for 37 years. During those years I taught upper elementary, and mathematics and science at the middle school level. I served as mathematics and science resource teacher. I oversaw and wrote science and math grants for my district. Under my direction we were able to establish a 5,000 square foot warehouse to stock science materials for teachers in three school districts. I developed an extensive training program so teachers were prepared to deliver this curriculum. The basis of this science was a rich hands-on inquiry based program for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade.
As a teacher I was elected to serve on my school site council. I worked with parents, community leaders, administrators and other teachers to bring challenging programs to our school. As a result our school was recognized with two Golden Bell awards from the California School Boards Association and was a California Distinguished School
During my years as a teacher I was “Teacher of the Year”. I also went on to become a finalist for Orange County Teacher of the Year. This was mainly due to my efforts to establish an outdoor science program for the children at our school
I was fortunate to serve on many district committees while I was a teacher. Some of those committees included: district report card, retention/promotion, science and mathematics, textbook selection, district curriculum council, and middle school science.
On the state level I have been fortunate to be selected by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve on the Retention/Promotion Committee to recommend rules and regulations to the State Board. I was also selected to be on a briefly constituted technology committee to deal with evaluating software.
In February 2001 the Governor appointed me to the California State Teachers Retirement Board (CalSTRS). I served as the K-12 representative on the Board until December 2003. While serving on this Board I acted as chairperson of the sub-committee on Benefits and Services. I served on the Investment, Budgets and Audits, Corporate Governance, Executive Compensation, as well as the Executive Director Selection Committees. I served as the Vice-Chairperson of the whole Board. The Board oversaw a portfolio of over $110 billion and we were 100% funded.
My husband, Don and I have been married for 48 years. We are lovers of fine wine and belong to the Orange County Wine Society. This organization raises money for scholarships for aspiring students in wine making as well as the restaurant industry. I am a member of the Seal Beach Lions and have been President of the former Seaside Lions. We raise money for many community organizations.
The Lions have recognized my service with 4 Melvin Jones Fellowships, the highest honor a Lion can receive. I am also a member of the Seal Beach Woman’s Club. I have also served on the Youth Center Board
Throughout my lifetime I have been a traveler. As such I have visited over 56 countries and 46 of our states.
My travels have taken me to build a school in Peru, circle the Pacific Ocean on ship for two months, walk through the centuries old medina of Fez, Morocco, wonder at the art in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Louvre in Paris, climbed the Great Wall of China, went down inside a pyramid in Egypt and went on a safari in South Africa.
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Cathy Larson:
My name is Cathy Larson, and I’m running for the Los Al School Board.
In just a few short weeks, our communities will have an opportunity to determine the direction of our district for the next four years, because three seats are available on the school board. Of the five candidates, two of the incumbents up for re-election will have been sitting for 12 years and one will have been sitting for 16 when Election Day rolls around. Because they have chosen to run again, we need to come together as a community to let our leadership know that it is time for new blood and fresh ideas to lead this district into the 21st century.
I can be that fresh blood, bringing those ideas with me to best serve our kids.
My husband and I have lived in Rossmoor for 13 years, and we moved here specifically for the schools. At the time, my son was 18 month old, and I was pregnant with my daughter. Since then they’ve both graduated from Lee, my daughter is at Oak and my son just started at the high school this year. The Rossmoor neighborhood has offered more than my husband and I could have ever imagined, but the schools have always left me wanting more. As good as they are in reputation and accolades, they haven’t always met the needs of every child — mine included.
And I say this as a public school teacher. I have been in education for twenty years, having earned my Bachelor’s in English Education and an MBA at Long Beach State.
I currently teach at Kennedy High School in La Palma. I know schools. I know trends. I know what I’m talking about — and I know what we need.
I am also a published author and the owner of Write Away U, a company that runs a summer program that focuses on helping kids discover their voice and fluency through writing.
You may have see us; we’ve been running camps at Rush Park for the past 7 years. In fact, I may have worked with some of your kids.
My whole life is education. My work. My free time. My business. It’s what I do.
I am running for school board, because I see a need in our district for a new voice. A teacher’s voice. A Rossmoor resident’s voice. I am frustrated by what I’ve seen and experienced, excited about the future, and confident that my experience can help make a positive difference.
I have lots of ideas. I’m not a politician, but, rather, an educator — both by trade and heart. I simply want the best for our kids, our teachers and our communities.
You can read more about my educational philosophies by visiting my website at cathylarson.com.
I’ve been writing a blog for the past two years and hope you’ll carefully consider where I stand on the important issues before you cast your vote for any of us.
I hope you’ll find me worthy of your vote — and our kids’ futures.
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Megan Cutuli:
My family has lived in Seal Beach and Surfside for 35 years. My 3 children went to the Los Alamitos Schools kindergarten through 12th grade. They all graduated from Los Al High School, they all graduated from college and they all have jobs. I am very fortunate that my daughter lives a half a block from me. I now have 3 grandchildren who attend Los Al schools.
I believe that education can change the world. I want all our students to be ready for their future. We need critical thinking, tech savvy, problem solving, creative and compassionate people. Our children are our future. And we must prepare them to lead the world.
One of my duties on the Los Al board is that I am also on the North Orange County Regional Occupation Program School Board. (NOR ROP) This is a consortium of 5 school districts and we focus on career technical education. We offer classes at Los Al High School varying from pre-school teaching, first responders, sports medicine and an engineering pathway called Project Lead the Way. This is just a partial list. In each class, we also teach resume writing, interviewing skills and work ethics. Employers tell us that they want the same qualities in their employees that colleges want in their students– they want people who are good communicators, can work collaboratively and think creatively.
I have been recognized by our Los Alamitos PTAs for my dedication to children by receiving the Honorary Service Award, Continuing Service Award and the Golden Oak which is the PTA’s highest honor. I have also been honored to receive the Marian Bergeson Outstanding Board Member for Orange County in 2010.
I have also been involved in organizations county wide and State wide. I have twice been the President of the Orange County School Boards Association and I currently sit on the Board of Directors of the California School Board Association. I was elected to the CSBA board position by my follow board members in Orange County and I am the only representative from Orange County. I feel it is important to be informed about all the issues in education. What is decided in Sacramento effects what we do in Los Al and I feel that we need to have a voice where so many decisions are being made.
We have many accomplishments in the Los Alamitos School District. We are recognized locally, state wide and nationally as an outstanding school district. These honors do not happen by accident but through vision, planning and action. We are never “done” in education. There is always something new for us to handle.
We must constantly balance needs and wants from our students, staff, parents and community. And I am not done. I still have the passion for helping children succeed in life and education is the surest way to do it.
I still would love to work with our students and community to continue to strengthen and further our successes. I have been honored by the endorsement of the Los Alamitos Educational Association and our local chapter of the California School Employees Association. It is because we work together as an educational organization that we accomplish so much for our children.
And I now respectfully ask for your vote so I can continue the great work in Los Alamitos Unified School District.
If you would like to contact me, my email address is megcutuli@gmail.com.
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David Boyer:
David Boyer – Governing Board Member/Financial Advisor/Businessman
My wife Lisa and I purchased our Rossmoor Highlands home in 2001. Like many of you we moved here for the School District and community and have been blessed ever since. Our two sons attended Rossmoor, McAuliffe, and are Griffin graduates. It has been my pleasure to serve on the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education for the last 12 years. I am especially proud that all of our Schools are recognized as Gold Ribbon Schools (The only District in Orange County to achieve this distinction). Los Alamitos High School is now nationally ranked in the top 3% of all High Schools in the country. I truly believe in our motto “Igniting Unlimited Possibilities for all students.”
I believe education is a lifelong process. I have a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Managerial Economics from the University of California Davis, MBA from Pepperdine University, Masters in Governance from the California School Boards Association, and a certificate in Financial Planning from University of California Irvine. As a practicing Financial Advisor for over 20 plus years I am equipped to manage the $110 million annual plus School District budget. I oversaw the 2006 measure K Bond projects a $126 million taxpayer investment with $24 million in state matching funds. We have collectively modernized all school & district sites on time and on budget in a fiscally responsible manner.
I have served our community as past President of the Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce, AYSO Region 159 coach, FNL Coach, LAYB Asst. Coach, Precious Life Shelter Board, member Seal Beach Lions Club, Asst. Scout Master Troop 658, and am an Eagle Scout.
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Robert J. Aguilar Jr.:
My name is Robert J. Aguilar, Jr. and I am asking for your vote this election for a seat on the Los Alamitos Unified School District’s Board of Education. I am a Southern California native having grown up in San Diego and spending my adult life in Los Angeles and Seal Beach.
I served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps, as a Bulk Fuels Specialist and Weapons Expert. My duty stations included Fort Lee, Virginia, Bakersfield, and Mira Mar, California. I was blessed to have not been involved in combat, but did leave with some of the most respected leadership training in the world.
My education includes the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts where I followed my long time passion for the arts completing undergraduate studies in Theater and Theater Production. I later attended film school and spent the better part of fifteen years working in the entertainment industry. I also posses a Bachelors Degree in Communications, as well as a Juris Doctorate from Pacific Coast University School of Law.
Currently, I work for a very large national insurance company in their legal department handling in-house litigation, negotiation and fraud prevention. I specialize in workers’ compensation defense representing employers in work place injury claims.
I am a single parent to a beautiful 9 year-old daughter currently attending school in the Los Alamitos School District and have been heavily involved in her education since day one. I am an Executive Board Member of the Parent Teacher Association as well as a Legislative Advocate for our children and teachers in Orange County.
My volunteer work reaches far beyond our school district and includes countless hours working with organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, Seal Beach Lions Friends in Sight, Toys for Tots and of Course the Seal Beach Lions Club where I serve as a Board Member and recently was given the Melvin Jones Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a member of the club.
When I publically announced my candidacy in March of this year I was confronted with dozens of emails and meeting requests from both parents with children in the district as well as teachers who are currently employed in our schools. My first observation was that these teachers were asking to remain confidential and wished to only communicate using private email instead of their assigned district emails. It was explained that they had reason to believe that the Superintendent was observing their communications on a regular basis and they feared retaliation. A red flag like this is not only disturbing but it prompted me to begin looking into the management of our district. This combined with our unprecedented loss of highly qualified administrators to outside districts is enough to make any parent or student concerned about the future of the district.
Parents were concerned that their children were not receiving the full attention and benefits offered by the district because of their unique learning abilities. It is easy to boast rising statistics and awards when you simply ignore a large minority of our student population who offer other unique qualities but don’t rise to the level of expectations of our current administration, or have been seen more as a financial burden than as an asset.
I personally believe the focus of our schools should not only be to encourage high level education, but to also develop students to be honorable and contributing members of society. Regardless of what professional or academic route they choose to take in life.
When elected to office I will work to ensure ALL students and teachers are respected.