Let Me Add To That...

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! To celebrate, we sat down with three remarkable Asian American guests, including LACOE Board President, Dr. Yvonne Chan and twin brothers, Kenneth and Kevin San from Alhambra Unified School District, who recently arrived in the United States from Burma. Join us as they share their experiences navigating high school life while balancing the...

Join Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Dr. Kanika White and Director I of Beginner Teacher Programs, Rami Christophi as they dive into the intricate process of becoming a credentialed educator and the compensation structures within the profession. They explore the current landscape of teacher recruitment, and how current events impact the interest of becoming...

In this episode, discover how LACOE’s Technology Services team is revolutionizing education! Join Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo and LACOE’s Chief Technology Officer Jose Gonzalez as they delve into the team's vital role in supporting our 80 school districts. From ensuring fair technology access for our students to providing top-notch cybersecurity at our school...

In this month’s episode, we celebrate Black History Month by diving into the importance of honoring Black history, leadership, activism and impact in schools and public education. LACOE’s equity, diversity and inclusion leaders Dr. Jamaal Williams and Dr. Tyisha Noise share insights on how schools and districts can properly recognize and celebrate Black history, not just during February but throug...

In this episode, we delve into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for education. Many educators and leaders in the education sector view AI with apprehension, but the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is on a mission to demystify AI and showcase its potential to positively impact education. Our guests, Dr. Chris Hoang, LACOE's Assistant Director of Tec...

Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Tiffany "T" Cruz, the Postproduction Lead of Podcast Business at Spotify. T shares her wealth of knowledge on how to kickstart your own podcast right within your school and district. Whether you're a teacher looking to integrate podcasting into the classroom or a student wanting to amplify your school's voice, this episode...

In this episode, we sit down with two LACOE employees who are the driving forces behind the creation of our Attendance Playbook – the ultimate guide to boost attendance at your schools: Chief of Wellbeing and Support Services, Alicia Garoupa and Senior Program Specialist in Child Welfare and Attendance, Toni Banuelos. The LACOE Attendance Playbook serves as the ultimate guide for school districts...

In this episode, we dive into the world of food allergies, school nutrition and the significance of Zacky's Bill. Join student Samuel Sherwood from Glendale Unified School District and Maryam Shayegh, LACOE's Nutrition and Wellness Coordinator, as they discuss these important topics. Samuel shares his personal experiences with food allergies, shedding light on the challenges many student...

On this month’s episode we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with two of our very own remarkable Latina leaders, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Debra Duardo and LACOE’s General Counsel Vibiana Andrade. From discussing the intricacies of terminology like "Hispanic" and "Latino," to sharing their unique perspectives on cultural identity shaped by their experien...

Happy August! School is back this month, so we called two of LA County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo’s Student Advisory Board members to join us and talk about what they really need from schools, educators and administrators. The two students, Jada Yang from La Cañada Unified and Adhirat Ajani from LAUSD compared experiences, resources and offered ideas to better schools for students...

Then versus NOW -- let’s get nostalgic! On this episode we have special guests from San Gabriel High School: Principal Debbie Stone and Math teacher Amanda Blackwood. The two educators join us to discuss the significant physical and social changes in education over the years. We talk about the evolution of classrooms from chalkboards to digital screens and celebrate the impact of technology advanc...

Authenticity. Allyship. Pride.   What does it all mean and how can we really support our LGBTQ+ community in our schools and at our districts? In celebration of June being Pride Month, we dive into the complex yet simple conversation with Tonya Moore, LACOE’s Coordinator III of Physical Education and Comprehensive Health and leader of PRISM (Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters) and...

In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we invited our Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo and Director of Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE), Dr. Emily Hernandez to discuss the various ways organizations can better support wellbeing among our education staff. Dr. Hernandez and Dr. Duardo talked about stress and depression in the workplace...

April is Earth Month, a time to reflect on environmental awareness and GO GREEN! But what does “going green” even mean? On this episode, we are joined by Jema Estrella and Laura Verbryck who lead our green schools initiative at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. You will learn all about sustainability in the education sector and how schools in LA County are supporting green initiatives, s...

March is Women's History Month so naturally, we invited two of our most outstanding female leaders in the Los Angeles County Education system: Glendale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian, and L.A. County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Debra Duardo. Both leaders have significantly impacted our students, schools and districts and they joined forces to discuss some of the...

Although Ethnic Studies is not new, it just recently became a graduation requirement in California. Coordinator III of History-Social Science and ethnic studies expert, Dr. Michelle Herczog shares what both students and districts can expect with the curriculum. She also discusses examples of how ethnic studies can be taught and implemented as well as what the Los Angeles County Office of Education...

Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo and Chief of Wellbeing and Support Services Alicia Garoupa discuss the rising  issues behind chronic absenteeism and how it relates to dropout rates. They talk about the real-life challenges these students face, and consider the different ways we can resolve this problem. --- About Let Me Add to That: An Education Podcast Nearly 2 milli...

This is the trailer for the Let Me Add to That: An Education Podcast. Season 1 begins January 4, 2023 with new episodes dropping on the first Wednesday of every month. Episode 1 will dissect an ongoing issue for education everywhere: Chronic Absenteeism and Dropout Prevention. It will feature Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo, and Chief of Wellbeing Alicia Garoupa. ---...