Matt Albert, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Matt Albert has worked in education for the past fifteen years. He has taught graduate level courses on child and adolescent development and published in academic journals. Matt spent nine years working at Milken Community High School as Assistant Principal and teaching History, American Government, and Constitutional Law. Matt founded New Los Angeles Charter School because he believes that all students deserve a top quality education. He sees himself as a social entrepreneur, in the business of improving public education. Matt has served on the Board of Directors at Camp Ramah in California, and is a frequent presenter at the UCLA Graduate School of Education’s Educational Leadership Program. He holds a doctorate in Education from UCLA, an M.A. in Political Science from Columbia University, and a B.A. in Political Science from UCSD.
Brooke Rios
Principal
Brooke Rios is an LA transplant originally from Ohio. As an English major at Ohio University, she was drawn into heated discussions about the inequities in public education. Before long, she switched majors and completed a BA in Integrated Language Arts Education. Brooke was accepted as a teaching fellow at Federal Hocking High School and taught high school English while completing her masters in Cultural Studies in Education. Inspired by progressive education and the small schools movement, Brooke went on to take a position at Wildwood School in Los Angeles, which is nationally known for its best practices in education. At Wildwood, Brooke served as a teacher leader and chair for the Humanities department. Brooke also coached middle school athletics and was an advisor for both middle and upper school students, until moving into administration to lead the school’s Outreach Program. As Outreach Coordinator, Brooke coached fellow educators and worked with public and charter schools nationwide to assist in the implementation of small, learner centered school programs. After school hours, Brooke enjoys eating green chilies from New Mexico, concert-going, cheering for her favorite NFL football teams, and leading a healthy and active lifestyle in Southern California. She is a newlywed, having married her fiance Reggie this past summer. Brooke is inspired by the mission of New LA and loves serving the school as principal and supporting all members of the community.
Kate O’Brien
Assistant Principal
Kate O’Brien was born in Los Angeles but grew up in a small town in Massachusetts. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College, a Masters in Teaching from National University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from UCLA. During her time at Oberlin, Kate developed a passion for environmental education and began to foster that as a founding teacher at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy. Kate taught 4th grade and bilingual Kindergarten and has done science and ecology instruction at both Camino Nuevo and Brawerman Elementary School for grades K-6. This will be Kate’s 10th year in education and 3rd year at New LA. She loves New LA’s mission of social justice education and project-based learning.
Marcelo Olmos
Director of Operations
Marcelo Olmos is a native of Los Angeles and is committed to making a difference in education. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from California State University Fullerton, Marcelo comes to New LA Charter from another charter school in Highland Park (N.E. Los Angeles) where he has been since April of 2007. He also served there as the Operations Director and assisted the Executive Director in the school’s charter petition renewal, operations, and facilities. In his spare time, Marcelo enjoys scuba diving, hiking, cooking and exploring LA’s diversity through food, music and art.
Bianca DeAnda
Operations Staff
Emma Naranjo
Operations Staff
Glenda Bernard
Receptionist
Ms. Bernard has lived in this neighborhood for 29 great years! She enjoys listening, communicating and helping people. “If I can make a difference in an individual’s life, then life is worth living.”
