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
All meetings are held according to the Brown Act and Senate Bill 126. See here for more details: Info on SB 126
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
Karin Kroener-Valdivia
Karin Kroener-Valdivia is the former Arts in Action Community Middle School Director. 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 and is currently in a district leadership role at LAUSD.
Prior to working in education, Karin was a certified public accountant for 11 years. 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. 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.
Board Members
Lizette Villarruel
Lizette Villarruel is a parent representative for Arts in Action Community Charter Schools. Lizette currently works as a child care specialist at the University of Southern California. Lizette has three children, and her children have attended Arts in Action. Lizette has been an active parent at Arts in Action for the last eight years. Lizette has grown up in the Boyle Heights/East Los Angeles area, and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Lizette is actively involved in the Boyle Heights arts community through her daughter’s participation in a local Ballet Folklorico dance group, and Lizette 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.
Rachel Gibbs
Rachel Gibbs is a parent representative for Arts in Action Community Charter Schools with a child who currently attends Arts in Action. Rachel works as an Infection Preventionist and Nursing Supervisor for the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (LADPH). Through Rachel's work for the LADPH, Rachel supports in the creation of government regulatory and agency guidelines, implements infection prevention education programs, and develops infection prevention and control policies for LA County. Rachel worked closely with Arts in Action during the Covid-19 pandemic, and provided valuable consultation and resources on testing and social distancing policies.
Prior to Rachel's work at LADPH, Rachel served as the Director of Nursing at Avanti Hospitals. Rachel obtained her nursing degree from Wilmington University. Rachel has a background in computer programing, and is a board member for the GLA Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
