What Raquel Zamora Says She'll Bring to LAUSD Board District 2

"LAUSD has some of the strongest special education services in the nation."

-- Raquel Zamora

In the 2022 election, Dr. Roc-o Rivas won the race to fill the Board District 2 seat that was held by Monica Garc-a, who was forced from office due to term limits. In her first attempt at re-election, Rivas will face Raquel Zamora. With only two candidates on the ballot, the June 2, 2026, primary will be a winner-take-all contest.

Challengers in this election cycle were provided with six questions to introduce themselves to voters. These are Zamora's responses:

Q. What is your current occupation?

I am an educator and social worker currently serving in three roles within the Los Angeles Unified School District. I work at Region East Pupil Services and Attendance as a School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Chair, where I support nearly 150 Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors across 256 school sites. I also teach evenings at Evans Community Adult School and on Saturdays at the East Los Angeles Skills Center.

Q. Do you or have you ever worked for the LAUSD? If yes, in what position(s)?

Yes. I have proudly served LAUSD for 25 years in a wide range of roles.

My career began at Abraham Lincoln High School from 2000 to 2004, where I worked part-time in the College Center as a stipend intern while attending Mount St. Mary's University. After graduating, I was hired as a teacher with the Division of Adult and Career Education (DACE), where I taught for 12 years. My courses included:

• English as a Second Language
• Citizenship
• Economics
• Government
• Independent Studies
• Distance Learning
• Individualized Instruction Lab
• Accelerated College and Career Transition (AC2T) program for youth ages 16-24 who were credit-deficient or had dropped out of school

Through DACE, I served at multiple school sites, including:

• East LA Skills Center
• Wilson-Lincoln Adult School
• Utah Elementary
• Theodore Roosevelt High School
• Huntington Park High School
• Richard Slawson Southeast Occupational Center
• Los Angeles Technology Center
• Abram Friedman Occupational Center
• Evans Community Adult School

After experiencing multiple RIFs, I pursued a master's in social work at the University of Southern California. During graduate school, I interned at Richard Riordan Primary Center, Monte Vista Early Education Center, and Meridian Early Education Center.

Upon earning my MSW, I transitioned into Pupil Services and Attendance, serving as a Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor at John C. Fremont High School. During the pandemic, I supported Charles W. Barrett Elementary before transferring to Ford Blvd. Elementary. I now serve as the SARB Chair for Region East while continuing to teach evenings at Evans Community Adult School and Saturdays at the East LA Skills Center.

Q. Do you have any children currently enrolled in the LAUSD? Any graduates of the District?

My daughter attended Ford Blvd. Elementary School.

Q. Why are you running?

I am running because our schools need a representative with deep, hands-on experience at school sites-- someone who understands the real needs of our students, families, staff, and communities. For years, our schools have been underfunded and understaffed, and our working conditions have not improved despite increasing demand. We are consistently asked to do more with fewer resources.

I want to bring my experience, work ethic, and commitment to public education to the school board. My priority is to advocate for policies that put students first, strengthen support for educators and school staff, and ensure that every school has the resources necessary to help students thrive. I believe in a school system where every student is valued, every family is supported, and every educator is empowered.

Q. Do you have any thoughts about how the LAUSD provides Special Education services?

LAUSD has some of the strongest special education services in the nation; however, our special education teachers and paraprofessionals are understaffed and overworked. Our school psychologists are carrying overwhelming caseloads. We must invest in staffing, training, and support systems to ensure that students with disabilities receive the services they deserve and that our educators have the resources they need to succeed.

Q. Do you have any thoughts about how the LAUSD regulates charter schools operating within its boundaries?

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