Lorena Ellis

About Me

My story begins in South Los Angeles, where I grew up and attended school from kindergarten through second grade. Those early experiences—and the communities that have shaped me throughout my life—are at the heart of why I have dedicated more than 25 years to public education.

I believe education has the power to change the trajectory of a young person’s life, but schools cannot do that work alone. My leadership is grounded in a simple conviction: to truly serve students, we must understand and support the families, communities, and systems that surround them.

Throughout my career, I have worked alongside students and families as a bilingual educator, school and district leader, community schools practitioner, policy advocate, and leader within juvenile court schools. My time serving youth at Los Padrinos Juvenile Court School deepened my commitment to young people who are too often defined by their circumstances rather than their potential. It reinforced for me that behind every student is a story—and behind many challenges are barriers involving housing, health, family circumstances, access to resources, belonging, and opportunity.

Today, as a Coordinator III within LACOE’s Community Schools Department, Division of Equity and Inclusion, I have the opportunity to take that commitment beyond a single school site by supporting systems, strengthening partnerships, and helping create more equitable and responsive structures for students and families across Los Angeles County.

Whether I am working with a family, supporting educators, developing community partnerships, advocating for multilingual learners, or helping shape policy and systems, my purpose remains the same: to ensure that a young person’s ZIP code, background, language, circumstances, or past never determines the limits of their future.

For me, this work has never been simply a career. It is a calling—and I still feel privileged to answer it every day.