LFCSA board meeting agendas and minutes are located here.

LFCSA is governed by the Board, comprised of between seven and eleven members. The Board’s roles and responsibilities include establishing and approving all major educational and operational policies, approving all major contracts, approving the school’s annual budget and overseeing the school’s fiscal affairs, and selecting and evaluating the top administrative staff. In conjunction with the top staff, the board has the responsibility of determining what outside legal and consulting services the school requires and contracting for such services.

GEORGE ABRAMS

George Abrams has spent over 20 years in the film industry first as an Assistant Director and then as a Director. Shortly after graduating UCLA film school, Mr. Abrams went to work for Warren Beatty, whereupon his first film experience was ISHTAR. Mr. Abrams eventually rose through the production ranks and become a Director’s Guild of American member on the film BUGSY. His credits include PHENOMENON, HOPE FLOATS, BULWORTH, JEEPERS CREEPERS and DOGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY. He has also worked on film budgets from $200,000 (HAPPY, TEXAS) to $175,000,000 (WILD WILD WEST).

As the first member of the Board, Mr. Abrams has spent over 6 months applying the skills he honed managing film productions to the start-up efforts of the school. These skills include logistical planning; cooperating, delegating and leading a diverse group of people; organizing efficient meetings and effective tasks; deriving maximum benefits from minimal costs.

MICHAEL P. BISHOP, SR., CBO

Currently serving as the assistant superintendent/chief business official (CBO) of the Paramount Unified School District, Mr. Bishop has extensive experience in the areas of business administration, accounting and education. He has worked for government offices (auditor for the state of California and auditor, chief accountant and general accounting officer for the Los Angeles County Office of Education) as well as private firms. An active leader in his field and in his community, Mr. Bishop has served on numerous committees and boards of directors including the Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs (ASCIP), Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC), Compton United School District (CUSD) and Paramount Unified School District (PUSD). In addition, Mr. Bishop is involved in a variety of professional organizations such as the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH), and enjoys activities such as serving as the guest presenter for the UCLA, CSULB, CSUF and CSUDH School of Education Administrative Credential programs. Mr. Bishop is a graduate of University of Southern California where he studied business administration with an emphasis in accounting and organizational behavior.

ELISE BUIK

Elise Buik became the first female president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles in March 2005. Under her leadership, UWGLA raised $59 million in its 2004/2005 campaign year.

Joining the organization in 1994, Ms. Buik has been instrumental in transforming UWGLA from its historical fundraising role into a community impact organization that identifies social issues, convenes experts, partners with other organizations and crafts innovative solutions. Ms. Buik has shepherded UWGLA’s highly-praised social reports, including A Tale of Two Cities, Latino Scorecard, Diverse Face of Asian Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County, and the latest, The State of Black Los Angeles, that shine a spotlight on pressing-and common-social problems in Los Angeles County and offer action plans to solve them.

A native of Atlanta, Ms. Buik served as co-convener for the President’s Summit for America’s Future and as project leader of the 1996 Los Angeles Olympic Torch Relay and Torchbearer selection. Prior to joining UWGLA, Ms. Buik spent seven years in the private sector as the marketing manager for a medical software company.

Ms. Buik recently served on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s transition team and previously served on the board of the Center for Non-Profit Management.

Ms. Buik, her husband David, and their two sons reside in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.

MARISSA CHIBAS

Marissa Chibas is a performer, writer, and educational administrator who has worked in a wide variety of theatrical forms for over two decades. She is currently the Head of the Acting Program at the California Institute of the Arts.

Her American premieres as an actor include; The Keening at the American Repertory Theater in Boston, The Predator’s Ball directed and choreographed by Carol Armitage at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Democracy in America at the Yale Rep directed by Travis Preston, Judgement Day by Odon von Horvath at Baltimore Center Stage directed by Jackson Phippin, and Two sisters and a Piano at the McCarter theater directed by Brian Kulick. On Broadway Ms. Chibas played opposite Sam Waterston in Abe Lincoln in Illinois directed by Gerry Gutierrez, and was Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs directed by Gene Saks. In 1993 Ms. Chibas was Julie Danton in Robert Wilson’s production of Danton’s Death at the Alley Theater in Houston. Her New York premieres include Eric Overmeyer’s Dark Rapture at New York Stage and Film, A.R. Gurney’s Another Antigone and Overtime at Playwright’s Horizons and Manhattan Theater Club respectively, and Hurricane at CSC directed by Barry Edelstein.

In 2002 Ms. Chibas played Edgar in the Center For New Theater at CalArts’ inaugural production of King Lear at the Brewery in Downtown Los Angeles, and at the Frictions Festival of Dijon in 2003. Ms. Chibas participated in the Sundance Theater labs of 1997, 1998 and 2004 where among her roles there she played Eva Luna in the dance/theater bi-lingual version of the Stories of Eva Luna directed and choreographed by Della Davidson.

Ms. Chibas has been an active participant as a director and actor with the 52nd Street Project, an organization devoted to uniting professional artists with inner city kids in the New York area in order to create theater. Other educational experience includes teaching acting at the Harvard Summer Program, and at NYU Playwrights Horizons Theater School for 5 years. Ms. Chibas has performed and worked with Junior and High School students in both the Manhattan Theater Club’s and Manhattan Class Company’s youth initiatives. She has served on panels at the Mark Taper Forum and at CalArts. Ms. Chibas is on the boards of Blank the Dog Theater and Automata, both based in LA.

Ms. Chibas is the author of Eddy’s Conscience a screenplay about her uncle, Eddy Chibas, a Cuban political leader of the 40’s who committed suicide during a live radio broadcast in 1951. Marissa adapted and directed The Writer on her Work based on the compilation of essays by women writers edited by Janet Sternburg. Her solo performance piece, Chasing Cuban Tales, is based on the stories of her Cuban revolutionary father and her mother, runner up Miss Cuba 1959.

In addition to the credits listed above Ms. Chibas has worked extensively in the Resident Theater such as; The Mark Taper Forum, Arena Stage, The Old Globe, and Actors Theater of Louisville. She has been seen on television in Law and Order and FEDS. On film she appeared in Lewis Klahr’s The Speed of Turqoise which played at MOMA, Getting Away with Murder with Dan Ackroyd, and Henry Fool directed by Hal Hartley.

DR. VERNA B. DAUTERIVE

Dr. Verna Dauterive (M.Ed. ‘49, Ed.D. ‘66) has devoted her entire professional career to public education. Her career began as an elementary teacher in Los Angeles in 1943. From 1982 until her retirement in 2005, Dr. Dauterive was principal of Franklin Avenue Elementary School in Los Feliz. As a zealous supporter of arts education, Dr. Dauterive developed a strong elementary arts program, which included instrumental and vocal music. During her tenure at Franklin, she governed with a “child-first” approach and galvanized support for the school by activating and engaging the parents in the education of the children.

Dr. Dauterive earned her Ed.D. from USC’s Rossier School of Education while already active as a teacher and administrator in LAUSD. She was appointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) by Governor Wilson, and served two terms as chair. Prior to her work on CTC, she was appointed by Governor Deukmejian to the California Commission on the Status of Women, and also served two terms as elected chair. Prior to her service at Franklin, she served as LAUSD’s Coordinator of Integration Programs, and Administrative Consultant for Teacher Selection and Recruitment.

Among her many honors, Dr. Dauterive was awarded the USC Distinguished Alumni Association Service Award, the USC Rossier School of Education Recognition of Outstanding Support for Education (R.O.S.E.) award, The Principal’s Recognition Award by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for Exemplary Administrative Leadership, and the City of Angels Parent/Community Involvement Award.

Dr. Dauterive is a member of the Rossier School of Education Board of Councilors and established the first scholarship for minority doctoral students in education.

ROBERT GREENBERG, MD, Ph.D.

President and CEO Second Sight ® Medical Products, Inc. since the company’s inception in 1998. Dr. Greenberg also sits on the board of directors of the Southern California Biomedical Council and the Alfred E. Mann Foundation. During his tenure at Second Sight, Dr. Greenberg has also held the following part-time positions: Associate Director of the Alfred Mann Institute at USC and Adjunct Professor at UCLA. Prior to the formation of Second Sight® Medical Products, Inc., Dr. Greenberg worked co-managing the Alfred E. Mann Foundation. From 1997 to 1998, he served as a medical officer and lead reviewer for IDEs and 510(k)s at the Office of Device Evaluation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the Neurological Devices Division. In 1998, he received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. From 1991 to 1997, Dr. Greenberg conducted animal and human trials demonstrating the feasibility of retinal electrical stimulation in patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa. This work was done at the Wilmer Eye Institute at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and led to the granting of his Ph.D. in 1997 from the Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering Department.

Dr. Greenberg also has biosensor and microsensor fabrication experience from work and teaching at the Whittaker Sensors Laboratory at Johns Hopkins. He received a B.S. in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from Duke University in 1990 and a degree in Technical Electronics from Nassau Technical Institute in 1985.

Dr. Greenberg has started several other small companies including one called ‘Campus Security’ where he designed, manufactured, and marketed an electronic intercom security system called TELEKEY®. These intercoms are currently in use in every dormitory at Princeton, Duke University, and several other universities across the U.S.

LINDA JOHANNESEN

Linda Johannesen is a nationally renowned author and leader in school reform; her work focuses on the role of the visual, performing, and literary arts in student learning and achievement. As senior author of major initiatives including Different Ways of Knowing, Writing and Thinking: A Process Approach, and Insights: Reading as Thinking K-4, Ms. Johannesen’s research-based models support rigorous instruction in ways that are adaptive and flexible, and that tap individual student talents and expertise. While president of the Galef Institute in Los Angeles, Ms. Johannesen developed the research-based model for integrating the arts into teaching and learning of all subjects, and today, this model continues to be adopted and adapted by schools and districts throughout the U.S. Ms. Johannesen holds degrees from Northeastern Illinois University and The University of Chicago, and began her career as a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools where she was enlisted into the Dept. of Research and Evaluation. Also in Chicago, Ms. Johannesen co-founded and co-directed Art Worlds, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to cross-cultural art exhibitions, and, Acamedia, a non-profit organization dedicated to high school media literacy, winning the Chairman’s Award for Excellence from the NEH. Among current affiliations, Ms. Johannesen is Director of Broad Reach Advisors, Inc, Senior Advisor to Art Works for Kids, and on the Advisory Board of the Los Angeles Arts Association.

GABRIELLE SAMUELS

(profile coming soon)

DR. SHARON SUTTON

Dr. Sharon Sutton is currently the Coordinator of Technology and Outreach at Seeds University Elementary School (UES), the laboratory school for the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. During her tenure she has led Seeds UES to national prominence for its model use of technology. Dr. Sutton has a doctorate in educational technology from Pepperdine University. In addition to conducting extensive professional development on technology integration for local school districts, NCREL and Department of Defense Schools, she has also presented to California legislators and at local and national conferences on the topics of technology integration and preparing teachers and students for the 21st century. Dr. Sutton was project co-leader of a team that developed an information literacy curriculum that serves as the foundation for the project-based learning approach used at Seeds UES. She also leads and coordinates professional development teacher institutes focusing on ”Managing Information in the Digital Age.” Dr. Sutton was recognized by Apple Computer as an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2003. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Computer Using Educators for the state of California.

ADVISORY BOARD

JEFFREY BUJER

Jeffrey Bujer is the Co-Chief Executive Officer at The Los Angeles Free Clinic, a non-profit health and human services organization that provides free medical and dental care for children, adolescents and adults; HIV education, counseling and testing; specialized medical care and social services for homeless and at-risk youth; prenatal care; and legal and mental services for tens of thousands of people each year. Mr. Bujer served as Chief Financial Officer for The Los Angeles Free Clinic before being appointed to Co-Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors.

Mr. Bujer has worked for over 25 years in non-profit administration. Prior to his work with The Los Angeles Free Clinic, Mr. Bujer was Chief Financial Officer at The California Family Health Council, Inc. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University in Los Angeles, Mr. Bujer has also completed certificate programs through the State of California and from the Center for Public Management in Washington, D.C.

DR. CARLOS E. CORTÉS

Dr. Cortés is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of California, Riverside. Since 1990, he has served on the summer faculty of the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education, as well as serving on the faculty of the Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication since 1995, and has been an adjunct faculty member of the Federal Executive Institute since 1999. His recent books include The Children Are Watching: How the Media Teach about Diversity and The Making — and Remaking — of a Multiculturalist, published by Teachers College Press. He is co-author of the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies series, senior consultant for the McDougal Littell World History series, and Creative/Cultural Advisor for Nickelodeon’s Peabody-award-winning children’s television series, “Dora the Explorer,” and its sequel, “Go, Diego, Go!” In addition, he has also performed his one-person autobiographical play, A Conversation with Alana: One Boy’s Multicultural Rite of Passage. A consultant to many government agencies, school systems, universities, mass media, private businesses, and other organizations, Dr. Cortés has lectured widely throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia on the implications of diversity for education, government, private business, and the mass media.