Local School Council Advisory Board (LSCAB)
Pursuant to the Illinois School Code, in 1996, the Chicago Board of Education established a Local School Council Advisory Board (LSCAB) comprised of both elected and appointed currently-serving LSC members. The role of the LSCAB is to advise the Board on issues related to Local School Council elections, operations, powers and duties, and school improvement plans. The LSCAB also serves as liaison between Local School Council members and senior staff and advises the Board of Education on other issues regarding the school district, as requested.
The LSCAB conducts public meetings monthly at the Garfield Center, 2651 West Washington at 4:00. Below is the meeting calendar for 2018:
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- Monday, Jan. 22
- Monday, February 26
- Monday, March 19
- Monday, April 16
- Monday, May 21
- Monday, June 18
LSCAB Members for the 2017-2019 Term
Mr. Thomas E. Gray, Chair, (Chicago Military Academy: Community Representative) has served as the Chairperson of the LSCAB since its inception in 1989. At the time he served on the Douglas Elementary School Local School Council as a Community Representative. He currently serves as a Community Representative on the Local School Council at the Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville. Mr. Gray is the Program Director of Permits and Neighborhoods Affairs for Special Events for the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs. Mr. Gray holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science.
Mr. Vicente Sánchez, Jr., LSCAB Vice-Chair (John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School: Community Representative) is an alumnus of Whittier Elementary School graduating in 1981 and serves on the LSC. Mr. Sanchez is the Chief of Staff for 25th Ward Alderman, Daniel S. Solis. Mr. Sanchez is also a proud Veteran, having served in the United States Marine Corps from 1988-1994.
Mr. David Ramos, LSCAB Secretary (Ogden: Parent Representative) has served as a parent member of the Ogden International School Local School Council for 20 years and has served as its Vice-Chair for 18 years. He was elected to the LSCAB in 2015 and currently serves as the LSCAB Secretary. Mr. Ramos is a 23-year member of the Chicago Police Department, president of the local park district advisory board and is the former Director of Homeland Security for Cook County. Mr. Ramos earned two master degrees from St. Joe's in Indiana.
Ms. Mary Sendra Anselmo (Canty Elementary: Community Representative) has been employed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County for 20 years. Previously, prior to entering government service she was a certified she was a certbiology teacher and department chair in the parochial and private school systems for ten years. In addition to serving as a Local School Council and Local School Council Advisory Board member, Ms. Anselmo is an active member of several community organizations, including the Polish American Museum and the Polish American Congress. Ms. Anselm's believes that “education is a life where each day we learn something new and each life we live; remains an on-going form of education.”
Mr. Samuel Bassett (Horace Greeley Elementary School: Community Representative) is in his third term as the LSC Community Representative of his Lakeview neighborhood school. He was first elected in 2012. Mr. Bassett earned his Ph.D. in Political Science focusing on Urban Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Mr. Bassett is an Account Manager with CDW working in their Nonprofits division where he helps churches, museums, research institutions, and multinational charities navigate technology to best complete their mission.
Mr. Alejandro Espinoza Olazaba (Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School: Community Representative) elected to the LSCAB in April 2016. He is committed to partnering with both school leadership and the greater community of his Alma Mater to ensure Curie High School remains on a path towards Level 1+ success. Mr. Espinoza serves as Director of School Partnership for OneGoal. Within that role, he enjoys building relationships and networks to make college graduation a reality for all Chicago students, by “providing school leaders access to an in-school solution that is both rigorous and scalable.” Mr. Espinoza earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a proud alumnus of Chicago Public Schools.
Mr. Edward L. Ford (Poe Elementary Classical School: Parent Representative) has served on a local school council since 2013, when he served as a Parent Representative in South Chicago’s Ronald Brown Elementary Community Academy. He also served as the Chairman of the Title I Parent Advisory Council at Brown. He currently serves as a Parent Representative at the Edgar Allen Poe Elementary Classical School and a member of the Englewood Community Action Council. Mr. Ford holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Studies from Chicago State University.
Ms. Michelle McGruder (Keller Regional Gifted Center: Parent Representative) was elected to the LSCAB in 2016 and has been a parent representative on the Local School Council board at Annie Keller Regional Gifted Center since 2015. She also served as Chairperson for the Parent Advisory Council at James Ward World Language School. Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Public Relations from Columbia College Chicago. She obtained a Master’s degree in Training and Development as well as professional certifications in training and development, online teaching, and instructional design from Roosevelt University. Michelle attended elementary and high school in the Chicago Public Schools district. She attended Richard’s Vocational high school where she majored in cosmetology passing state board and earning her license cosmetologist. Professionally, Michelle was a Territory Sales and Education Manager for L’Oréal USA. Impassioned to encourage and support children, Michelle served as an Assistant Coach, Division Coordinator and Board Member for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). Michelle also has volunteered with many charitable and civic organizations. Simply stated, Michelle is an Advocate is Active and is Passionate for both our youth and those in need.
Ms. Laura Patton-Van Buskirk, PsyD (McPherson Elementary School: Parent Representative) was first elected to serve on an LSC in 2004, as a Community Representative. She has since then gone on to serve as a Parent Representative for over 10 years. Dr. Patton-Van Buskirk serves as a clinician and clinical director for Optimal Health Solutions. She received her graduate education from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology with a minor in Health Psychology, including externships at UIC Medical Center and Northwestern’s Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Presently she is also adjunct faculty at Roosevelt University and National Louis University in the clinical psychology programs as well as Director of Student Wellness services at East-West University. Dr. Patton-Van Buskirk, is delighted to be active in her community, supporting local schools to grow and thrive. “I believe that additionally serving on the LSCAB, I have the opportunity to provide valuable insight about local schools’ needs. I hope to continue to be active after my children graduate from McPherson in the coming year.”
Mr. Sergio M. Ramirez (George Washington Elementary School: Principal) has been involved in education for over 20 years. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration and Supervision. He taught in one of Chicago’s premier dual language schools, Inter-American Magnet School, for 11 years. He completed his principal internship at Irma C. Ruiz Elementary in the Pilsen Community. Mr. Ramirez co-lead at Enrico Tonti Elementary for 6 years as the assistant principal and helped shift the school performance from probation to good standing. He is currently the principal at George Washington Elementary School located on the Southeast Side of Chicago. He is an exceptional instructional leader with a relentless drive to ensure equitable access to high quality instruction and a safe and nurturing environment. Mr. Ramirez is a very visible principal and he states the best part of his job is getting to know all the students in the school. He emphasizes to students the school motto “Working hard will lead you down the path of success”. He looks forward to serving the school community and continue his career here at George Washington Elementary.
Ms. Eva Maritza Rodriguez (John Hancock College Preparatory High School: Parent Representative) has participated on Local School Councils since 2009, beginning at Enrico Tonti Elementary School. Currently, she is one of the Parent Representatives at John Hancock College Prep. Ms. Rodriguez is a longtime advocate of Diverse Learner education. She is passionate about the rights of Diverse Learners to higher education and is committed to their success in college. “All our CPS kids are our future!”
Mr. Jerome Yanoff (Boone Elementary School: Community Representative) is a retired CPS teacher, and college professor. He taught High School Special Education for 27 yearsand the Special Education Survey Class at National Louis University for 18 years. Mr. Yanoff has authored three books on education and has lectured on Special Education and Behavior Management. Although retired, Mr. Yanoff has been motivated to serve as a Local School Council and Local School Council Advisory Board member because he cares deeply about improving the Chicago Public Schools for all of the children of Chicago.