FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexandria Castellanos
[email protected] (213) 608-5897
Los Angeles Unified Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin Chairs the Los Angeles County Education Coordinating Council
LOS ANGELES, CA ( AUGUST 31, 2023) — Board District 7 is proud to announce that LA Unified School Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin has been appointed to chair the Education Coordinating Council (ECC) for Los Angeles County Office of Child Protection. This role reflects Ortiz Franklin’s commitment to build student-centered systems that promote opportunities for all youth to thrive in college, career and life.
“Tanya Ortiz Franklin is a powerful voice, with child-focused energy, to lead the extraordinary work of the Education Coordination Council," Former ECC Chair and Los Angeles Unified School District Board President Monica Garcia said. “LA County needs her unapologetic demand for equity, accountability and justice.”
As the chair for the ECC she will work with county and nonprofit entities to change the educational trajectory for system-involved students. Some of the members include department heads from Children and Family Services, Probation, Mental Health, superintendents from Los Angeles County school districts and the presiding judge from the Juvenile Court, as well as advocates, representatives from community-based organizations and former foster and probation youth.
“I’m grateful to work with the ECC – a high-impact group that is solutions-oriented to improve outcomes for system-involved youth so that they are prepared to thrive in college, career and life,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “This body has the power to exercise our collective voice to dramatically improve student achievement, chronic absenteeism, school connectedness and more. I’m looking forward to our many opportunities to work together.”
The Education Coordinating Council’s mission is to coordinate efforts across organizations and jurisdictions, to expand best practices and fill gaps to support educational achievement for system-involved youth in Los Angeles County. Ortiz Franklin has spent her entire career advancing educational achievement for Los Angeles youth. She is well-matched to continue this work as the ECC Chair.
“While we miss the presence of Monica Garcia on the ECC, we welcome Tanya Ortiz Franklin and look forward to a very productive tenure for her as the new chair of the ECC,” Judge Michael Nash (Ret.), Executive Director, LA County Office of Child Protection, said.
“We are very excited for Tanya Ortiz Franklin to join the ECC as its new Chair, bringing with her over fifteen years of experience as an educator and advocate to ensure all youth receive the highest quality education possible,” Director, Education Coordinating Council Barbara Spyrou Lundqvist said. “Throughout her career Tanya has prioritized centering the voices of communities and students who have historically been pushed to the margins, including youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We look forward to Tanya’s leadership on the ECC to facilitate collaboration between system and community partners to raise the educational achievement of system-involved youth in Los Angeles County.”
Board Member Ortiz Franklin is a member of the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education representing Board District 7, where she was previously a student, teacher, teacher-educator and advocate. She is committed to ensuring all students graduate fully prepared to thrive in the college, career and life of their choice. Los Angeles Unified Board District 7 includes the diverse communities of South Los Angeles, Watts, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington and San Pedro.
For more information about Board District 7, visit us at https://achieve.lausd.net/bd7 or follow us on social media: Instagram (@lausdbd7), Facebook (@lausdbd7), Twitter (@lausdbd7).