Continuing to Strive for Excellence

From the Chairman Of the Board
Richard Riordan

As we enter 2008, it is a natural time to reflect on the incredible growth and accomplishments that the Alliance has achieved in 2007.

In May of 2007, a $10 million gift to the Alliance was secured, donated by The Broad Foundation and several board members.

* In July of 2007, the Alliance hired an outstanding new Chief Academic Officer, David Linzey.

* In August of 2007, California’s Annual Performance Index scores revealed that every Alliance school dramatically outperformed its neighboring district schools once again.
* In September of 2007, three additional Alliance schools opened, bringing the total number of Alliance college-prep schools up to 10.

Looking ahead, this upcoming year promises to be a year of wonderful “firsts” for the Alliance, with its first senior class graduating from the Gertz-Ressler High School in June. Howard Lappin, the principal of Gertz-Ressler High School, predicts that the vast majority of current Gertz-Ressler seniors will be attending a four-year university in the fall. He notes that most students will be the “first” in their families to attend college. What a remarkable and reaffirming day Graduation will be for the entire Alliance community!

I would like to thank the Alliance’s CEO Judy Burton for her leadership and all of the Alliance management team, teachers, supporters and students for their unwavering commitment to improving Los Angeles public education. Together, we will continue to raise the bar for our public schools and ensure all students are truly “college-ready”.