Communities already possess the skills, resources, and insights to address the challenges they face. Through LAEP’s Transform Schools work, we act as partners for educational communities, aligning community resources and school assets, while engaging families to address opportunity gaps and remove barriers to learning.
This work is made up of three components:
Weaving together the experience and resources of staff, students, parents, residents, and organizations, we help transform schools into community resource hubs that address systemic inequities and enact liberatory practices. We ensure these educational communities thrive long after our involvement ends by building agency, fostering empowerment, and merging best practices and innovative approaches with a commitment to radical inclusion. We provide both direct service, leading the transformation on campus ourselves, as well as technical assistance to support schools, districts, and counties as they do this work.
LAEP Teaching & Learning Coordinators are both practitioners and thought partners. They:
Our STEAM Teaching & Learning work integrates STEAM into all aspects of school culture.
Sharing our experience and practice, we offer equity-centered professional development tailored to team and site needs. Subjects range from building cultures of equity and resilience to strategies and systems for improved classroom instruction, teacher collaboration, and family engagement.
Looking for a partner to support transformation on your campus? Get in touch to discuss how LAEP can tailor our work to support your needs.
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.
