Governing Board

If you would like to contact the board to provide feedback, concerns or suggestions (or even compliments!) please use this link:

AIA School Board Feedback

President

Ronae Harrison

Ronae Harrison is a Staff Assistant II for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) division of Los Angeles County Public Health Department. The SAPC program leads and facilitates the delivery of a full spectrum of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services proven to reduce the impact of substance use, abuse, and addiction in Los Angeles County. Although she is a dedicated and hard worker in all that she does, her most important and rewarding job is that of mothering her two children, who attended Arts in Action Community Charter Schools since elementary school. Ms. Harrison joined the Board in 2014, when she was elected United Parent Council (UPC) President, and saw the positive impact parents made when their voices were heard. After a year of acclimating to her additional work assignments, she returned to the board in 2016 where she is presently serving as the President.

Vice President

Nancy Flores

Nancy Flores is a high school Resource Specialist teacher at a small high performing Alliance-College Ready Public School in Downtown Los Angeles. She has been an educator for over seven years. Nancy earned her Masters degree in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University. During her Master’s training she was part of the Teach for America (TFA) Los Angeles Corps. She continues her involvement with TFA through the 2017 Cohort for the OneDay Fellowship. Nancy specializes in creating partnerships with parents and families to promote student growth. Nancy is very passionate about education, service, promoting student advocacy and social justice.

Treasurer

Deborah Bronner

Deborah R. Bronner is an attorney practicing in the area of business and consumer law. She has operated a law firm as a solo practitioner in Los Angeles for close to thirty years. Ms. Bronner has extensive experience as a business owner and as an attorney specializing in business disputes and business transactions. She is committed to the founding principles of the Arts in Action Charter School. Ms. Bronner earned her BA at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, a Masters degree in Urban Studies at University of New Orleans and a J.D. at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Secretary

Maria Raffanti

Maria Raffanti joined the board during the 2018-2019 school year. Maria Raffanti is an Intervention Coordinator at Synergy Kinetic charter school, where she facilitates intervention structures in classrooms and supports teachers with instructional strategies. She has 7 years of teaching experience in special education and math intervention. Maria earned her Masters Degree at Loyola Marymount University in Special Education and is a former Teach for America corps member. In addition to her current role, Maria works closely with the advocacy organization, UnidosUS, to provide culturally relevant service learning opportunities for middle school students in her South Los Angeles school.

Lizett Villaruel

Lizett Villaruel is a parent representative for Arts in Action Community Charter Schools. Lizett currently works as a child care specialist at the University of Southern California. Lizett has two children and one more on the way. Lizett's children have attended Arts in Action. Lizett has been an active parent at Arts in Action for the last seven years. Lizett has grown up in the Boyle Heights/East Los Angeles area, and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Lizett is actively involved in the Boyle Heights arts community through her daughter’s participation in a local Ballet Folklorico dance group, and Lizett is actively involved in her local church, Resurrection Church. Lizette joined the school board because she wants to be involved in her children’s education. Lizette’s areas of expertise include early childhood development and performing arts. Lizette has seen how much Arts in Action has helped her children and joining the school board is her way of giving back to the schools.

Mariela Pinedo

Mariela Pinedo is a parent representative for Arts in Action Community Charter Schools. Mariela is an IT Technician, and is responsible for hardware and software IT at Staffing Partners, an employment agency in Downtown Los Angeles. Mariela has three children, and all three children attend Arts in Action. Mariela has a daughter who is ten, a son who is eight, and a daughter who is five. Mariela has been an AIA parent for the past six years. Mariela received her Medical Assistant Certification through Everest College. Mariela graduated from John C. Fremont High School, in Huntington Park. Mariela’s areas of expertise include IT, running a local family business and professional tailoring. Mariela joined the Arts in Action board in order to support the Arts in Action staff and teachers, and to actively participate in the decision-making process of the organization.

Karin Kroener-Valdivia

Karin Kroener-Valdivia is the former Director of Arts in Action Community Middle School. During Karin's time at AIA, Karin helped to collaboratively design structures and routines that allowed the school to show positive growth in reading and math scores. Prior to working with Arts in Action, Karin worked for L.A.U.S.D. for 18 years as an English teacher, while also holding various administrative roles including: Bilingual Coordinator, Linked Learning Coordinator, Lead Teacher and BTSA Support Provider. Karin is National Board Certified and holds a clear administrative credential.

Prior to working in education, Karin was a certified public accountant for 11 years. Karin has a business degree from the University of Arizona and a master's in child development, with a specialization in bicultural development, from Pacific Oaks College. As an accountant she worked for the public accounting firm Deloitte and Touche, Disney International Home Video, and as the Director of Accounting and Finance for Fox International T.V.

Parent Board Flyer

Hi everyone! We are looking for a parent representative for our school board. Be a part of the leadership team, and help provide a voice for parents and families! For more information, please text or call: Jesus Mascorro, Director of Community Engagement and Enrichment at: 213-392-0093