About LAEP

President of Los Angeles Educational Partnership to Retire THE LOS ANGELES EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP (LAEP) today announced the retirement of Peggy Funkhouser, the organization's president and executive director. LAEP will immediately begin a search for a new president. Funkhouser will remain in her position until January 1, or until a successor is found. LAEP's first and only president, Funkhouser has led the development of LAEP from a conversation in a restaurant in 1983 into one of the nation's largest and most successful local education funds. During her tenure LAEP has collaborated with foundations, corporations, educators and community members to raise and invest more than $50 million in efforts to improve public education in Los Angeles. "Peggy has been a consistent and relentless force for improving public education for more than fifteen years," says Doug Brengel, chairman of LAEP's board of directors. "From providing the first small grants to teachers to leading the development of comprehensive plans for school reform, she has been involved in virtually every important effort to better education in our community. She has achieved much, and done it with a spirit of collaboration and generosity that too often is missing in our civic affairs. We will miss her leadership, perseverance and energy tremendously." Under her leadership, LAEP has worked to foster and support excellence in public education through activities that range from the provision of support and training for teachers to complex initiatives that engage schools and communities in comprehensive educational reform. LAEP currently provides support for the LEARN Plan and the LAAMP Initiative and is supporting the development and dissemination of the Urban Learning Centers, a nationally recognized New American Schools model for comprehensive school reform. LAEP also has been a pioneer in teacher professional development and has established some of the nation's largest and most innovative teacher networks. Through its technology initiative, LAEP provides educators with affordable access to the Internet and instructional technology, and the training to use it effectively in the classroom. LAEP also supports school-based programs to improve school readiness and educational outcomes through the delivery of health and social services to children and families in under served communities. Funkhouser leaves LAEP well prepared for its work in the new century. Supported by an annual budget for 1999-2000 of more than $7 million, LAEP is planning to launch several major new initiatives to promote quality teaching, connect schools and communities and foster comprehensive education reform. "There are many different kinds of leaders in the world, but few with the tenacity, focus, stamina and decency that Peggy has demonstrated," says Wendy Puriefoy, president of the Public Education Network, the nation's largest network of community-based school reform organizations. "She has been an inspiration for our members and LAEP's achievements under her leadership have served to inform and encourage reform efforts in school districts and communities across the nation." Highlights of LAEP's achievements during Funkhouser's years as president include: Design, development and dissemination of the Urban Learning Centers, a nationally recognized model for comprehensive school reform. Design and development of the Learning Community Program to provide support, planning assistance, training and technical assistance for schools participating in LEARN. Development of LALCNet, a telecommunications network providing educators with low cost access to the Internet and quality online content materials. Development of a technology services group to provide educational technology training, develop content materials and facilitate the use of the Internet and other technologies to improve teaching and learning in Los Angeles and other large urban school districts. The establishment of Teacher Networks, providing teachers with an ongoing source of support and training to improve their knowledge and skill and to encourage teacher leadership, professionalism and collaboration. Establishment of Humanitas, an award winning interdisciplinary instructional program and teacher network that engages more than 500 teachers and 10,000 students in 32 high schools in Los Angeles. The development of FamilyCare, a comprehensive effort to overcome barriers to student learning by increasing student and family access to health, social and community services. The establishment of career academies in finance, travel and tourism, health and information technology that provide students with access to a focused course of curriculum and instruction as well as training and internship opportunities. The provision of more than $ 7 million in grants and other financial incentives to educators through the LAEP Fund for Innovation. Efforts to build informed public involvement and support for quality public education through activities such as Principal for a Day and the Excellence in Education Awards. "LAEP has established a track record and a depth of knowledge and expertise that is of great value to Los Angeles," says Puriefoy." "As an independent intermediary organization they have always walked a tightrope between pushing the Los Angeles Unified School District to change, and collaborating with the reformers within schools to improve public education. In the process they have earned the trust of many educators, and the respect and recognition of the philanthropic community and those in the education reform movement. Peggy's leadership has made that possible. She will be missed, but she leaves behind a strong, well-funded organization that is prepared and determined to continue its important work.