Cherniss comes to LACOE from the Beverly Hills Unified School District, where he served as assistant superintendent for Business Services. He joined BHUSD in 2000, serving as math instructor, assistant principal, principal and director of Human Resources.

Cherniss has helped BHUSD double its general fund reserves in each of the past two years. "His impressive background and solid track record of success will help LACOE address its fiscal challenges," Superintendent Arturo Delgado said.

Cherniss received his bachelor's degree from UC Santa Barbara, his master's in educational administration from Pepperdine University and his doctorate in Urban K-12 Schools from USC. He received his school business certification through FCMAT's Chief Business Official Program.

"I look forward to collaborating with LACOE staff and contributing to the team," said Cherniss, who will assume his new position on April 2.

The personnel of the Division of Student Support Services knows a lot when it comes to street gangs, violence and drugs.

The division's Community Health and Safe Schools unit geared up to prove once again that it is the local go-to group when it comes to offering practical and useful training.

The unit recently presented its 3rd Annual Symposium on Street Gangs and School Safety, a one-day conference at ECW that drew 150 administrators, teachers and other staff, including campus police and law enforcement representatives.

The Feb. 24 event was designed to provide updates on gang issues and trends in gang-related crime and violence confronting school systems across Southern California.

The main presenters were Robert Jagielski, who runs the Gangs Out of Downey (G.O.O.D.) program, and Santa Ana Police Detective Mona Ruiz, an author and acclaimed specialist on female gang culture. Ruiz's book, "Two Badges," is in development as a television drama for CBS.

The event was covered by three newspapers, including a front-page story in the Long Beach Press-Telegram and articles in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and La Opinion.

The event coordinator, Jewel Forbes, the DSSS school safety specialist, said that regular training about gang problems is constantly needed because L.A. County is home to over 1,100 street gangs with more than 100,00 members and associates.

Surveys show, she noted, that 9 percent of students attending local public middle and high schools self-identify as gang members and 2 percent admit to carrying a gun to campus.

Photo: At the Feb. 24 symposium at LACOE are (l-r) Detective Mona Ruiz with DSSS administrators Ray Vincent and Jewel Forbes.

In an era of smartphones and social media, succeeding in government relations still takes a personal touch. No technology has replaced the face-to-face meeting as the best way to gain support for your positions and policies in Sacramento.

"This is a place where relationships matter," said LACOE Government Relations Director Pamela Gibbs. "When you're working on a bill, you have to get around to every legislative office. It's a sign of respect. And you have to be passionate about your issues."

In addition to conducting legislative research and writing reports on legislation, Gibbs spends much of her time in the Capitol building on behalf of LACOE and L.A. County public schools -- informing legislators, policymakers and other officials about critical education and budget issues. A registered lobbyist, Gibbs has nearly 18 years of experience in state legislative matters that include serving in the Office of Legislative Counsel and the Governor's Office.

With that experience comes Gibbs' extensive Rolodex of personal contacts so necessary for building coalitions and influencing opinions.

Supporting Gibbs in the small LACOE office one block from the Capitol are Legislative Analyst David Simmons, Senior Division Secretary Themia ("T.J.") Jamias and intern Sam Nasher, a student at CSU Sacramento.

Read the full story. 

Photo: LACOE Government Relations staff in Sacramento are (l-r) Themia Jamias, Pamela Gibbs, David Simmons and Sam Nasher.

The Association of L.A. County School Administrators, or ALACOSA, the group that represents many LACOE managers, recently announced the winners of its annual "Every Student Succeeding" scholarship program.

"It is an honor to be a part of the longstanding ALACOSA tradition of supporting LACOE students in their continuing education through scholarships," said Leslie Zoroya, ALACOSA's vice president of programs. "These youths are gracious, humble and proud. And their stories remind all of us how important our work is here at LACOE and who we really serve."

A total of $1,300 in scholarships was presented Feb. 17 at an ECW lunchtime recognition ceremony to which parents were invited. The money for the scholarships was raised by ALACOSA members.

The winners of $200 scholarships were:

- Ashley Moreno, Special Education

- Kent G. Mendoza, Student Programs

- Mary Janet Ramos, Migrant Education

- Ruben Avoian, L.A. County Regional Occupational Program

The winner of the Dr. Darline Robles Scholarship of $500 was Javier Sanchez, also from Migrant Education.

In addition, Moreno was selected by ALACOSA to represent it at the Association of California School Administrators Region 14 student scholarship ceremony held Feb. 27 in Cerritos. She was awarded another $200 at that event.

"We are so very proud of Ashley," said Tana Donaghy, the ALACOSA awards and recognition chairperson. "She has overcome obstacles and is ready to continue her academic endeavors."

Photo 1: At the ALACOSA event (l-r) Leo Valdez, migrant education coordinator; Yolanda Benitez, assistant superintendent of Educational Services; student Mary Janet Ramos, and Martha Ensminger, migrant education administrator, Long Beach USD.  

Photo 2: (l-r) LACOROP Director Jimmy Benavides with student Ruben Avoian. 

When she was in her early teens, International Polytechnic High School (iPoly) Principal Elsa Martinez knew she wanted to be a school counselor.

"I was always interested in counseling, and my friends came to me when they needed help with life issues," said Martinez, who obtained a master's in school counseling at Cal State L.A. after graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor's in cultural anthropology.

Working as a school counselor for 13 years, she was passionate about helping heal and guide the troubled souls among the hundreds of young faces in the classrooms, especially those who needed to be diverted from drugs, alcohol and gang-related activities.

At one point, she found herself getting administrative credentials -- only because her school district made it a requirement for school counselors. This step led her to assume a leadership role that gave her an opportunity to help students "in a much bigger way," Martinez said.

She became an assistant principal at Claremont High School, a position she held for nine years. In 1998, she joined LACOE's iPoly HS as its principal. Envisioned as an innovative public college prep school that is centered on project-based learning, iPoly was then bogged down with growing pains and many challenges. It lacked a strong infrastructure and its curriculum had not been approved by the University of California system.

"The school's philosophy resonated with me, both as a counselor and an administrator," said Martinez, who took over the helm with a strong resolve to lead the school on a successful path.

Read the full profile. 

Looking for a brand-new challenge, beyond her classroom duties at the Phoenix Academy (JCS), Avognon created a one-woman play, "Makin' Us Whole: A Tribute to Literary Activists," as a vehicle for inspiring young people about literature.

"Makin' Us Whole" is a tribute to some living poetic legends who are also African American women and activists. They include Nikki Giovanni, Ntzoke Shange, Sonia Sanchez and Maya Angelou, all of whom have inspired Avognon.

The play debuted in L.A. in March to coincide with Women's History Month. It runs March 24-25 and March 31-April 1 at the Imagined Life Theater. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Read the Daily News story about Avognon and her one-woman play.