Kelly Gonez

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 byMónica Ratliff
President of the LAUSD Board of Education
In office
December 15, 2020 – January 17, 2023
Preceded byRichard Vladovic
Succeeded byJackie Goldberg
Personal details
Born1988 (age 34–35)
Mission Hills, Los Angeles
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
Loyola Marymount University (MA)

Early life and education

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

Early career

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]

LAUSD Board of Education

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]

Electoral history
2017 LAUSD Board of Education District 6 election[13]
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
2022 LAUSD Board of Education District 6 election
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
  1. Bendery, Jennifer (May 17, 2017). "Former Obama Officials Sign Up For Their Next Jobs: Running For Office". HuffPost.
  2. "Congratulations to our Top Ten Scholars". Bishop Alemany High School.
  3. "Voters Say Yes to SOE Alums". Loyola Marymount University. November 11, 2020.
  4. 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.
  5. "Meet Kelly Gonez, the Only Teacher Running for LA School Board District 6". La Comrade. May 2, 2017.
  6. Blume, Howard (March 29, 2017). "Obama administration Education secretary endorses Gonez, Melvoin for L.A. school board". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Favot, Sarah (October 18, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Middle school science teacher enters race for San Fernando Valley seat on LAUSD board". LA School Report.
  8. Romero, Esmeralda Fabián (May 17, 2017). "Kelly Gonez declares victory in LAUSD's District 6 race". LA School Report.
  9. "LAUSD elects Kelly Gonez, youngest woman president in its history". Los Angeles Daily News. December 15, 2020.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Blume, Howard (January 17, 2023). "Goldberg elected L.A. school board president amid tense labor negotiations". Los Angeles Times.
  13. "CITY OF LOS ANGELES GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS MAY 16, 2017". Los Angeles City Clerk. May 26, 2017.
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