With school starting in just a few weeks, the Office Depot Foundation is donating 8,000 sackpacks, each containing essential school supplies, to kids served by LA-area nonprofit organizations, schools and agencies. The giveaway starts at 10 a.m. Friday during a special Back-to-School Celebration at the Office Depot store at 401 E. 2ndStreet. As he did last year,...

Mayor Eric Garcetti has appointed Abigail Marquez as “the associate director of education and workforce,” his first education-related appointment. Marquez, an enthusiastic supporter and fundraiser for Garcetti during his recent election, formerly served as East Area director (a sort of community liaison) for Garcetti’s predecessor, Antonio Villaraigosa.  She is also on the board of Legacy...

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, delivered a hard-charging speech at the union’s convention in Washington on Monday (transcript here), asserting that ineffective teachers should find another line of work. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ot8rjKmBfk&w=400&h=225] “If someone can’t teach after they’ve been prepared and supported, they shouldn’t be in our profession,” she said, winning loud applause from more...

Reporters were left scrambling late Friday afternoon when they received copies of a letter sent by School Board member Bennett Kayser to Superintendent John Deasy, asking Deasy to develop a “succession plan” for the superintendent and other senior staff. The letter was littered with typos: The date at the top read “7/19/23.” The word “therefore”...

By: Ashunda Norris Heading into the final day before a special election for the east valley City Council seat, teacher dismissal has emerged as a central issue between Cindy Montanez and Nury Martinez. Responding to accusations that she protected predatory teachers while serving as a school board member, Martinez fought back over the weekend, saying...