LAEP provides equity-centered professional development – workshops, coaching, and communities of practice – to help educators manage the demands of school environments and enhance their craft. We honor the voices of educators in the planning and facilitation of all professional development and customize our offerings to meet your unique needs.
LAEP’s district, site, and team-specific professional development offerings include:
LAEP also provides technical assistance for those looking to learn from our decades of experience in the community schools space.
Pioneering professional development workshops and coaching help educators center healing and build resilience so they can build equitable environments that are safe, inclusive, and equitable. Staff walk away with strategies, policies, and practices that support resilience, reduce stigma for mental health, and promote emotional wellness to build trusting school climates that foster staff and student well-being.
LAEP supports schools to create strategies, goals, and objectives that lead to increased student and school improvement outcomes. LAEP works directly with school leaders to:
We act as thought partners that collaborate to maximize a school’s potential. We prioritize leadership coaching, the development of rigorous, engaging curriculum, and the implementation of relevant assessments focused on trust building and school climate.
An early childhood teacher program acts as a career on-ramp for people facing obstacles to starting careers in early childhood education. The year-long program combines college coursework, a paid internship, and coaching and professional development from experienced LAEP staff. Internship sites also receive continuing education and coaching around staff mentoring, staff management, and business administration.
Looking to invest in professional development for your school, district, or early childhood center staff? Contact us.
LAEP can come alongside your community, as thought partners and collaborators, empowering you to drive transformation and liberation.
LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia
storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has
honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse
organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm
Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her
creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.
With strategic communication and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing
compelling multimedia campaigns that not only raise awareness of critical issues but also
inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept development, production
execution, and team leadership ensures projects are delivered with exceptional quality.
Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders,
cultivating partnerships that maximize campaign reach and impact.
LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from
Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to
Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for
storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of
shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in
Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes.
Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role
leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also
serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.
Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.
Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.
