Hello LFCSA Parents,
Below are the people nominated for PTA office who have
expressed a willingness and a desire to fill the
positions. As we are a new organization, nominees were
few and interested parties fewer, and these people are
running unopposed. However, the folks below are all
fantastic, committed LFCSA parents and I think they will
do a great job of getting our PTA off the ground. They
have each provided a short paragraph explaining their
fitness and their qualification for the job.

Many thanks to those of you who have become members of
the lfcsPTA. We hope that all parents and staff will
eventually become members and we will be calling our
first general meeting soon, in the upcoming weeks.
Sincerely,
Adam Kopald
Acting PTA V.P.

President: Ryan Bell
From Ryan Bell:
If elected I would be happy and honored to serve as
the President of our new PTA. My wife, Elysabeth Bell,
and I have two daughters – Zoe (7, 2nd grade) and Sophie
(4). Zoe started as a 1st grader last year at LFCSA and
we’ve both been very active in the school from the
beginning. Last year I served on the Site Council. My
term on the Site Council was up just last month and so I
would like to shift my focus to PTA. I have over 13 years
of experience managing non-profit organizations. I am
well acquainted with how non-profit boards operate and I
think my experience in leading groups of people to form a
vision and pursue it together would serve the PTA as we
launch this new endeavor.

Exec VP: Amy Mayne
From Amy Mayne:
I love this school and the fact we have the
opportunity to work with the teachers, the children
and our community we are building with each family at
Los Feliz! I see the work that the entire “Team” has
to put in to make this possible. Bringing the P.T.A to
our school will be another “Tool” that will help us
fulfill the hands on approach to our children’s
education! I am all for that! I know it makes a
difference that our children see us, “grown-ups” get
so involved with their school. Thanks for the
consideration of your vote…..
Amy is Miranda’s Mom in 1st grade.

Ways and Means (fundraising) Co-Chairs: Nicole Whittaker
and Gabrielle Samuels
Gabrielle is this year’s Grassroots Fundraising Chair and
Nicole and Gabrielle both helped to produce the very
successful Harvest Arts and Crafts Fair. Nicole has been
very active in LFCSA fundraising since before the school
opened.

Treasurer: Soo Kim Choi
Soo Kim has many years experience in commercial
banking and will bring her money management expertise
to the PTA.

Membership Chair: Elysabeth Bell
From Elysabeth Bell:
Both my husband and I are committed to the success of
LFCSA. Our daughter Zoe, now in second grade, is doing
great. We look forward to
next year when our daughter Sophie will start
Kindergarten. I think the PTA is a great way for families
to support our school and as
Membership Chair it would be my job to get all the
families enrolled. Because I ran the after school program
last year I know a large
portion of you already, and I am excited to get to
know the families I didn’t get the chance to work with.

Auditor: Rob Knaack
From Rob Knaack:
My son Dexter is in Kindergarten in Ms. Miller’s
class. I’m a founding parent who is delighted with
the progress the school has made so far and very
impressed with the teachers and staff. I would like
to continue to play an active role in making Los Feliz
Charter the best school it can be. In my non-Los
Feliz Arts life, I work in the animation industry as a
CTO who also writes math-laden computer programs. I
like working with numbers, and my wife thinks I’m
already too fond of spreadsheets, so she suspects I’m
perfect for this gig. An attentive auditor will be
especially key in the years ahead as we build finances
for our new location and continue to grow in size and
scope. My son Dexter says, “Please vote for my Dad, Rob
Knaack. He’s good with computers and at fixing
things. And he’s fun.”

Secretary: Sallie Higgins
From Sallie Higgins:
Sallie Higgins for Secretary/Historian: The main
reason I can do this job exceptionally well is because
I take detailed notes in every meeting I attend and
have a good track record for attending meetings.
Already a parent elected adviser, my term on the Site
Council is from Sept. 2006 until June of 2008. I am
also a State licensed Early Education Director, have a
BA in Fine Art, and have been studying, teaching, and
advocating Constructivisim even before LFCSA was
conceived. That’s why I am so excited about our
school!! In addition I have a handle on how to keep
our goals on course with my hands-on experience
working last year in both after school programs. This
experience has given me a good understanding of how
improvement needs to take shape from this point
forward using our talented, creative, and caring
parent body to reach those goals. Our school needs to
incorporate our parents back into our curriculum and
philosophy! By attending Site Council meetings, PTA
meetings, and also Board meetings too, I want to keep
current on all aspects of what is going on in the
school and rest assure, as I do, I will write down
what I hear and and share information for the
betterment of our parent-initiated, incredibly
wonderful center of learning. The PTA is going to
make a difference!