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Tag: Transform Schools

PRESS RELEASE: Los Angeles Education Partnership Celebrates GivingTuesday with 40/40 Challenge.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Los Angeles Education Partnership Celebrates GivingTuesday with 40/40 Challenge, joining millions around the world participating in the global generosity movement on December 3, 2024. Los Angeles, CA (November 5, 2024): This GivingTuesday, Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) will inspire generosity with a $40 Challenge to commemorate their 40th Anniversary. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, […]

Get Ready to Make a Difference this GivingTuesday with Our 40/40 Challenge

Just launched! LAEP’s 40/40 Challenge celebrates our 40th anniversary with a $40 donation goal. Join us in making a lasting impact in our LA community. For 40 years, we’ve been dedicated to transforming education in Los Angeles, and we’re thrilled to have you join us on this journey as we approach Giving Tuesday which takes place on December 3, […]

Ready2Teach Program Celebrates First-Ever Graduation Event

Nearly 30 participants of the Ready2Teach program walked across a stage to receive their certificate of completion in front of a cheering audience of family and friends on June 29 at East Los Angeles Community College (ELAC). The celebration commemorated the first ever cohort of Ready2Teach as participants completed the 12-month program and took a […]

June 2024 LAEP Newsletter

In our June Newsletter, we celebrate Juneteenth and the end of the school year! Read the newsletter here.

May 2024 LAEP Newsletter

In our May newsletter, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with a special promotion and honor Early Head Start graduates! Read the full newsletter here.

Community Schools Spotlight: Achieve 3000 Reading Workshop

Our Community Schools Hub gives students access to programs that connect them with classmates and prepare them for the future. A pair of 8th-graders from Emerson Middle School share their experience in the Achieve 3000 Reading Workship!

April 2024 LAEP Newsletter

In our April Newsletter, we celebrate Week of the Young Child and cut the ribbon on our new Early Head Start Childcare Center! Read the newsletter here.

Teaching and Learning Students and Families Experience Magic at STEAM Events

Students of 75th Street Elementary School created more than 140 interactive projects for a lawn game field day on March 15 that brought their knowledge of STEAM to life. Mazes, foosball tables, and ring tosses were a few of the imaginative games created by the future scientists and engineers and guided by one of LAEP’s […]

First Ever “A Gathering of Giants” 21CSLA Conference Brings Together Leaders Committed to Equity, Change

SAN DIEGO, CA – “A Gathering of Giants” Conference on March 1-2 in San Diego brought together educational leaders to emphasize the crucial role of advocating for equity and continuous improvement within their communities of practice. Organized by California’s 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) and the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), the conference […]

MARCH 2024 LAEP NEWSLETTER

In our March Newsletter, we celebrate Women’s History Month and the opening of our new Early Head Start Childcare Center! Read the newsletter here.

Melissa Peña

Chief Program Officer

Melissa Peña serves as the Chief Program Officer at the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), bringing more than two decades of experience advancing educational equity, youth development, and community-centered systems change. A mission-driven and strategic leader, she has dedicated her career to eliminating barriers to learning and seeking equitable outcomes for historically underserved youth. Prior to joining LAEP, Melissa spent over 14 years at Green Dot Public Schools where she launched and scaled high-impact initiatives that reduced chronic absenteeism by 27%, expanded access to wellness services, and built network-wide support systems for more than 600 homeless and foster youth across 18 schools. Her leadership is rooted in both entrepreneurial vision and disciplined execution—designing programs, teams, and infrastructure that strengthen outcomes for students while supporting the adults who serve them. 

Melissa’s commitment to equity has shaped her work across roles in education, youth development, and human services, including senior leadership positions at The Door in New York City and national diversity recruitment efforts at Teach For America. She began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Newark, New Jersey, a formative experience that continues to ground her belief that the key to ensuring every young person meets their full potential lies in the power of family–school–community partnerships. At LAEP, Melissa leads program strategy with empathy, clarity, and a deep belief that children thrive when systems work together from “diapers to diplomas.” She holds a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she enjoys researching her family history, exploring nature, and family movie nights with her husband and two children. 

LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

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.

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.