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Kelly Fitzpatrick-Gonez (born 1988) is a former science teacher and current member and former president of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. She was elected as a board member in 2017 and as president in 2020. Prior to her election, she had previously served as an education policy advisor for the Obama administration.[1]
Kelly Gonez | |
|---|---|
 Gonez in 2021 | |
| Member of the LAUSD Board of Education for the 6th district | |
| Assumed office May 16, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mónica Ratliff |
| President of the LAUSD Board of Education | |
| In office December 15, 2020 – January 17, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Vladovic |
| Succeeded by | Jackie Goldberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1988 (age 35–36) Mission Hills, Los Angeles |
| Spouse | Manuel Gonez |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley (BA) Loyola Marymount University (MA) |
Early life and education edit
Gonez was born in 1988 to an immigrant family in Mission Hills. She attended St. Euphrasia Catholic School in Granada Hills for elementary and middle school and graduated from Bishop Alemany High School in 2006.[2] She was the first in her family to attend college, graduating from University of California, Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in political science and history and later Loyola Marymount University with a master's degree in urban education.[3][4]
Career edit
Gonez first taught geometry at an LAUSD high school, later becoming a 6th-grade science teacher from Lake View Terrace. In 2014, Gonez was appointed by then-President Barack Obama to serve as an education policy advisor. As an advisor, she secured over $50 million in additional education funding and led the administration to increase education funding and support for special populations.[5] The Obama administration later endorsed Gonez for the board.[6]
On October 18, 2016, Gonez announced that she would be running for the District 6 seat in the Board of Education.[7] She won against Imelda Padilla on May 17, 2017.[8] In 2020, she was elected by her colleagues to become the president of the Board of Education, becoming the youngest woman president in the history of the board to become one at 32.[9][10] Her election, along with Nick Melvoin as vice president, signified a shift toward more influence for backers of charter schools, as both members were supported by pro-charter donors.[11] In 2023, the Board voted to make Jackie Goldberg the president, replacing Gonez.[12]
Personal life edit
Gonez is married to Manuel Gonez, a policy director for the nonprofit TreePeople.[13] They reside in North Hollywood and have three children.[14] In 2024, he ran for the Los Angeles City Council's 2nd district, where he placed fourth in the primary.
Electoral history edit
| Primary election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Kelly Gonez | 15,984 | 37.16 | |
| Imelda Padilla | 13,390 | 31.13 | |
| Patty López | 5,159 | 11.99 | |
| Araz Parseghian | 3,853 | 8.96 | |
| Gwendolyn Posey | 2,483 | 5.77 | |
| Jose Sandoval | 2,149 | 5.00 | |
| Total votes | 43,018 | 100.00 | |
| General election | |||
| Kelly Gonez | 16,961 | 51.46 | |
| Imelda Padilla | 15,996 | 48.54 | |
| Total votes | 32,957 | 100.00 | |
| Primary election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Kelly Gonez (incumbent) | 32,702 | 47.72 | |
| Marvin Rodriguez | 21,495 | 31.37 | |
| Jesus Arana | 14,334 | 20.92 | |
| Total votes | 68,531 | 100.00 | |
| General election | |||
| Kelly Gonez (incumbent) | 51,707 | 51.27 | |
| Marvin Rodriguez | 49,151 | 48.73 | |
| Total votes | 100,858 | 100.00 | |
References edit
- ^ Bendery, Jennifer (May 17, 2017). "Former Obama Officials Sign Up For Their Next Jobs: Running For Office". HuffPost.
- ^ "Congratulations to our Top Ten Scholars". Bishop Alemany High School.
- ^ "Voters Say Yes to SOE Alums". Loyola Marymount University. November 11, 2020.
- ^ Favot, Sarah (February 14, 2017). "Meet an LAUSD school board candidate — District 6's Kelly Gonez: 'I would bring in an incredibly strong sense of urgency'". LA School Report.
- ^ "Meet Kelly Gonez, the Only Teacher Running for LA School Board District 6". La Comrade. May 2, 2017.
- ^ Blume, Howard (March 29, 2017). "Obama administration Education secretary endorses Gonez, Melvoin for L.A. school board". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Favot, Sarah (October 18, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Middle school science teacher enters race for San Fernando Valley seat on LAUSD board". LA School Report.
- ^ Romero, Esmeralda Fabián (May 17, 2017). "Kelly Gonez declares victory in LAUSD's District 6 race". LA School Report.
- ^ "LAUSD elects Kelly Gonez, youngest woman president in its history". Los Angeles Daily News. December 15, 2020.
- ^ Blume, Howard (December 15, 2020). "Kelly Gonez, 32, first in her family to attend college, is new L.A. school board president". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Blume, Howard (June 30, 2017). "Q&A: New school board member Kelly Gonez isn't as pro-charter as many donors to her campaign". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Blume, Howard (January 17, 2023). "Goldberg elected L.A. school board president amid tense labor negotiations". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Smith, Dakota (August 5, 2023). "With Krekorian facing term limits, Valley candidates begin jockeying to replace him". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Petrow-Cohen, Caroline (February 1, 2024). "Your guide to the L.A. City Council District 2 race: East Valley". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "CITY OF LOS ANGELES GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS MAY 16, 2017". Los Angeles City Clerk. May 26, 2017.