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LAEP Board of Directors Announces New CEO

On behalf of the Los Angeles Education Partnership Board of Directors, it is with great excitement and acknowledgment of both her past and present leadership that we announce that interim LAEP CEO Dr. Dawn A. Kurtz has been selected to serve as LAEP’s new CEO! The appointment is effective immediately. Dawn’s proven record of accomplishment of success in the role, combined with her academic, professional, and leadership experience all make her the right choice to continue to move our organization forward in the LAEP mission of advancing educational equity. 

Dawn has served the role of interim CEO since Nov. 1, 2023. Our Board of Directors conducted a formal CEO search process, with the help of a CEO search consultant, and leaned on the counsel of LAEP’s Leadership Team. The CEO search included assessment and evaluation of both internal and external candidates. In the end, Dawn proved to be the perfect choice. We are inspired by the leadership that Dawn has showcased over these past seven months, and we are eager to see what new heights she can help us reach in this permanent position. 

“I believe wholeheartedly in LAEP’s vision and mission and am humbled by the opportunity to continue earning the same trust and respect of colleagues, board members, and community partners that I’ve strived to over the past 7 months. I’m excited to continue building a positive, equity-focused culture that allows us to continue partnering with parents, students, and educators to impact systems change across the educational trajectory, from diapers to diplomas.”

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Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

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.