Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Graciela Ortiz
Current job title: Regional Administrator, Pupil Services and Attendance
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Mayor/Councilmember, City of Huntington Park
City where you reside: City of Huntington Park
Campaign website or social media: https://www.gracielaortiz.com/
1. As the second-largest school district in the nation, LAUSD serves a diverse community of staff, parents and students. What are your top priorities for the district, and how will you incorporate community voices? (Please limit to 250 words)
My top priorities for LAUSD focus on equity, academic excellence, and fostering a supportive environment for both students and staff. I am committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality education and resources that help them thrive. Additionally, I aim to prioritize mental health services and promote safe, inclusive schools. To effectively incorporate community voices, I will establish regular forums and surveys to engage parents, teachers, students and all stakeholders, ensuring that their concerns and ideas are at the forefront of decision-making. By fostering open dialogue and transparency, I intend to build stronger connections between the district and the communities it serves. Additionally, I plan to collaborate closely with local organizations and stakeholders to ensure that LAUSD policies reflect the diverse needs of the community. Through these initiatives, I aim to create an educational environment where all students can succeed and feel valued.
2. California is spending billions on its K-12 public school system and yet schools are seeing declining enrollment. How would you handle the financial impacts of declining enrollment? (Please limit to 250 words)
Handling the financial impacts of declining enrollment requires a multifaceted approach. First, I would advocate for a shift in funding formulas to consider factors beyond student enrollment, such as community needs and school performance. This would protect under-enrolled schools from drastic cuts while still supporting quality education. Additionally, I would work closely with local and state elected officials to secure funding for innovative programs like career technical education (CTE), arts, and STEM, which can attract and retain students. An important part of this multifaceted approach involves holding the federal government accountable to its commitments under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which mandates funding for students with disabilities but has historically been underfunded. By advocating for full federal funding, LAUSD could better support special education programs without relying solely on state and local resources.
3. LAUSD lags behind other California school districts in reading and California has one of the lowest literacy rates in the U.S. What are your thoughts on the best way to increase literacy rates? (Please limit to 250 words)
Improving literacy rates in LAUSD requires a comprehensive, community-focused approach. First, early intervention is key. Expanding high-quality early childhood education programs will provide young learners with a strong foundation in reading. Additionally, investing in teacher training on evidence-based literacy instruction methods, such as phonics and guided reading, is critical to improving outcomes at all grade levels.
Family engagement is also essential. By partnering with parents and caregivers, we can provide them with tools and resources to support reading development at home. Programs like family literacy nights, reading workshops, and take-home reading materials can strengthen the home-school connection.
Furthermore, addressing the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs) is vital to improving literacy. Implementing dual-language programs and providing targeted reading support for ELL students will help ensure they are not left behind in literacy development. I would push for more funding to support school libraries, after-school tutoring, and access to technology, ensuring that all students have access to the tools they need to become proficient readers.
I will work with community leaders to establish partnerships in providing literacy opportunities for our students like I helped establish in Huntington Park as a councilmember. In Huntington Park, I helped create free one-on-one tutoring during the summer for students who were struggling in school. This tutoring program brings the resource to the family as it is provided at the local park. Partnerships are imperative in strengthening our overall school system and improving literacy rates.
4. Charter schools are prominent in Los Angeles, but the district’s relationship with L.A.’s more than 200 charters is tense. How do you think the district should handle the division of resources between charter and district-run schools? (Please limit to 250 words)
LAUSD has an entire Charter School Division that focuses on charter public school authorizing, oversight and sharing of promising practices. I have not witnessed the sharing of promising practices at all between schools. Instead, I see the tense relationship that is suggested in this question that is brought on by politics specifically during election season. Students and families who live in LAUSD boundaries want good neighborhood schools that fit their needs. We must stop politicizing children and families and instead focus on ensuring that all our schools have the resources that they need to provide the education that the children in our communities deserve.
5. The trauma and learning loss caused by COVID-19 will be felt for years. How do you propose the district should continue to address these issues? (Please limit to 250 words)
The trauma and learning loss caused by COVID-19 require our schools to be fully funded in all areas. For starters, we must address the mental health needs of our students. I propose increasing access to counselors and psychiatric social workers in every school to help students process trauma. This should be complemented by trauma-informed training for teachers and staff, ensuring that the classroom remains a safe space for recovery.
Academically, the district should continue targeted interventions, such as personalized tutoring, extended learning opportunities, and summer programs, to mitigate learning loss. Additionally, implementing assessments to identify gaps and creating individualized plans for students will ensure they receive the support needed to catch up. Lastly, enrichment programs are essential to keep students engaged in school. Some students are struggling in one area but would benefit from enrichment in other areas.
Collaboration with families and community organizations will also be critical in providing a holistic support system for students. By prioritizing both emotional and academic recovery, LAUSD can help students rebuild the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Graciela Ortiz
Current job title: Regional Administrator, Pupil Services and Attendance
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Mayor/Councilmember, City of Huntington Park
City where you reside: City of Huntington Park
Campaign website or social media: https://www.gracielaortiz.com/
1. As the second-largest school district in the nation, LAUSD serves a diverse community of staff, parents and students. What are your top priorities for the district, and how will you incorporate community voices? (Please limit to 250 words)
My top priorities for LAUSD focus on equity, academic excellence, and fostering a supportive environment for both students and staff. I am committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality education and resources that help them thrive. Additionally, I aim to prioritize mental health services and promote safe, inclusive schools. To effectively incorporate community voices, I will establish regular forums and surveys to engage parents, teachers, students and all stakeholders, ensuring that their concerns and ideas are at the forefront of decision-making. By fostering open dialogue and transparency, I intend to build stronger connections between the district and the communities it serves. Additionally, I plan to collaborate closely with local organizations and stakeholders to ensure that LAUSD policies reflect the diverse needs of the community. Through these initiatives, I aim to create an educational environment where all students can succeed and feel valued.
2. California is spending billions on its K-12 public school system and yet schools are seeing declining enrollment. How would you handle the financial impacts of declining enrollment? (Please limit to 250 words)
Handling the financial impacts of declining enrollment requires a multifaceted approach. First, I would advocate for a shift in funding formulas to consider factors beyond student enrollment, such as community needs and school performance. This would protect under-enrolled schools from drastic cuts while still supporting quality education. Additionally, I would work closely with local and state elected officials to secure funding for innovative programs like career technical education (CTE), arts, and STEM, which can attract and retain students. An important part of this multifaceted approach involves holding the federal government accountable to its commitments under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which mandates funding for students with disabilities but has historically been underfunded. By advocating for full federal funding, LAUSD could better support special education programs without relying solely on state and local resources.
3. LAUSD lags behind other California school districts in reading and California has one of the lowest literacy rates in the U.S. What are your thoughts on the best way to increase literacy rates? (Please limit to 250 words)
Improving literacy rates in LAUSD requires a comprehensive, community-focused approach. First, early intervention is key. Expanding high-quality early childhood education programs will provide young learners with a strong foundation in reading. Additionally, investing in teacher training on evidence-based literacy instruction methods, such as phonics and guided reading, is critical to improving outcomes at all grade levels.
Family engagement is also essential. By partnering with parents and caregivers, we can provide them with tools and resources to support reading development at home. Programs like family literacy nights, reading workshops, and take-home reading materials can strengthen the home-school connection.
Furthermore, addressing the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs) is vital to improving literacy. Implementing dual-language programs and providing targeted reading support for ELL students will help ensure they are not left behind in literacy development. I would push for more funding to support school libraries, after-school tutoring, and access to technology, ensuring that all students have access to the tools they need to become proficient readers.
I will work with community leaders to establish partnerships in providing literacy opportunities for our students like I helped establish in Huntington Park as a councilmember. In Huntington Park, I helped create free one-on-one tutoring during the summer for students who were struggling in school. This tutoring program brings the resource to the family as it is provided at the local park. Partnerships are imperative in strengthening our overall school system and improving literacy rates.
4. Charter schools are prominent in Los Angeles, but the district’s relationship with L.A.’s more than 200 charters is tense. How do you think the district should handle the division of resources between charter and district-run schools? (Please limit to 250 words)
LAUSD has an entire Charter School Division that focuses on charter public school authorizing, oversight and sharing of promising practices. I have not witnessed the sharing of promising practices at all between schools. Instead, I see the tense relationship that is suggested in this question that is brought on by politics specifically during election season. Students and families who live in LAUSD boundaries want good neighborhood schools that fit their needs. We must stop politicizing children and families and instead focus on ensuring that all our schools have the resources that they need to provide the education that the children in our communities deserve.
5. The trauma and learning loss caused by COVID-19 will be felt for years. How do you propose the district should continue to address these issues? (Please limit to 250 words)
The trauma and learning loss caused by COVID-19 require our schools to be fully funded in all areas. For starters, we must address the mental health needs of our students. I propose increasing access to counselors and psychiatric social workers in every school to help students process trauma. This should be complemented by trauma-informed training for teachers and staff, ensuring that the classroom remains a safe space for recovery.
Academically, the district should continue targeted interventions, such as personalized tutoring, extended learning opportunities, and summer programs, to mitigate learning loss. Additionally, implementing assessments to identify gaps and creating individualized plans for students will ensure they receive the support needed to catch up. Lastly, enrichment programs are essential to keep students engaged in school. Some students are struggling in one area but would benefit from enrichment in other areas.
Collaboration with families and community organizations will also be critical in providing a holistic support system for students. By prioritizing both emotional and academic recovery, LAUSD can help students rebuild the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
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