Thursday, 5/8/97 Mitchell named LAUSD adviser UCLA official will
work with Riordan on education
By Brooke Olson Daily Bruin Senior Staff A top UCLA official
will be working closely with Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan to
improve the quality of public education in the city. Ted Mitchell,
vice chancellor for academic planning and budget, and special
assistant to the chancellor was appointed Monday to the position of
senior adviser for education. He replaces Helen Bernstein, the
former head of the teachers’ union, who was struck and killed by a
car last month. "I am so pleased that Ted has agreed to serve as my
senior adviser for education," Riordan said in a statement released
Wednesday. "I look forward to working with him as we strive to
provide the children of Los Angeles the tools to compete in school
and beyond." Riordan approached Mitchell several weeks ago and
asked the vice chancellor if he would be interested in carrying on
Bernstein’s work. Bernstein and Riordan created the advisory post
last fall in order to establish a closer watch on public education.
Education is not under the jurisdiction of the mayor, but Riordan
felt it was important for him to remain in touch with Los Angeles
schools, said Noelia Rodriguez, a spokesperson for Riordan. "This
position essentially allows the mayor to have a voice in the public
education system," Rodriguez said. "It enables the mayor to make
economic and social decisions in regard to educational issues."
Mitchell, who will work for the mayor on a pro bono basis, doesn’t
have a set job description but said he plans for meet with Riordan
in order to discuss the mayor’s goals for education. "This is very
early on and the mayor and I haven’t had a chance to talk … but I
do know that Riordan has been instrumental as a leader of education
in L.A.," Mitchell said. The vice chancellor does not believe the
advisory job will in any way affect his position at UCLA. In fact,
Mitchell indicated that he would rely on university colleagues to
help him design education renewal programs. "What’s especially
encouraging is that the mayor has once again turned to UCLA as a
source not just for his administration but for the city," Mitchell
said. "UCLA will continue to play a role in aiding the city."
Riordan made educational reform among his top priorities for his
second term. He was re-elected on April 8 with 62 percent of the
vote. During his first term, the mayor started a foundation to
donate tens of thousands of dollars in computers to public schools.
Mitchell enters the position as the Los Angeles Unified School
District (LAUSD) undergoes a number of structural changes. LAUSD
officials have come under increasing criticism as test scores show
that the district is far below the national average in reading and
math. In addition, controversy over how Proposition BB – an April
ballot initiative allotting $2.4 billion in bonds for structural
repair of schools – should be spent has also severely divided the
school system. A local Libertarian Party member sued LAUSD last
month over the Proposition BB campaign, alleging that district
officials misled the voters. The district has also undergone recent
management changes – Ruben Zacarias was appointed last week as the
next superintendent of Los Angeles schools. These issues should
leave Mitchell with no shortage of educational reform work, said
officials for Riordan. "There are a number of things Mitchell will
be able to tackle," Rodriguez said. In addition to his professional
experience, Mitchell has conducted research examining educational
organizations in an historical perspective. Specifically, he has
explored the ways educational organizations in the United States
respond to change. He is also active in a number of civic
organizations, including Los Angeles Educational Alliance for
Restructuring Now (LEARN), an educational reform group started by
Riordan. Mitchell also serves on the boards of Los Angeles
Educational Partnership, the Fund for the Community’s Future,
Children Now and the UCLA Foundation. The vice chancellor studied
at Stanford University where he earned a double major undergraduate
degree in history and economics, a graduate degree in history and
his doctorate in education. UCLA Today Ted Mitchell, the new LAUSD
senior adviser. Previous Daily Bruin stories: Story about Helen
Bernstein 4/14/97