Rocío Rivas, PhD
Committed to creating strong neighborhood public schools that nurture our communities, Dr. Rivas brings her own experience as an immigrant and a public-school parent to her work on the Board of Education. Grounded in both a global and local understanding of public education, her academic training and professional work experience have been in education policy, research, and program evaluation. She holds a BA in Political Science and Development Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, with a minor in African-American Studies, and a PhD in Comparative and International Education with a Political Sociology emphasis from Columbia University. She has conducted field work as a contracted researcher for the Los Angeles Unified School District and internationally in the Republic of Georgia with the Soros Foundation and in Bolivia with the Earth Institute/Columbia University. Prior to being elected to the school board, Dr. Rivas worked as Policy Deputy under current LAUSD Board of Education President, Honorable Jackie Goldberg.
Prioritizing environmental justice, equity and wellness for all students, Dr. Rivas chairs the Los Angeles Unified School District Greening and Climate Resilience Committee. A longtime public school advocate, she also brings her extensive background knowledge, policy research and expertise to her role as chair of the Charter School Committee.
Meet the Team
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Rudy Gonzalves
CHIEF OF STAFF
Rudy has over two decades of experience with labor and community alliances in building political and electoral power for workers and BIPOC communities. He previously served as the Education Campaign Director with Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) - supporting a coalition of parents, students, and educators committed to protecting and strengthening our public schools. He also served in leadership positions with the United Farm Workers, Jobs to Move America, Service Employees International Union, Cali Calls, and the LA Mayor’s Office. He is an attorney and attended University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Email Rudy at rudy.gonzalves@lausd.net
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MaryLou Hernandez
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
MaryLou D. Hernandez brings over 35 years of experience working in the Los Angeles Unified School District as Director of Operations for Dr. Rocío Rivas. Since early childhood experiences with helpful staff at her elementary school, MaryLou has wanted to be that person who brightens everyone’s day while running an efficient and effective office. She is dedicated to public education and how much our schools can do for our city and society. MaryLou is inspired daily by her husband and their two sons. She likes to hike, read, and spend quality time with her family and girlfriends in her free time.
Email MaryLou at marylou.hernandez@lausd.net
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Jack Suria-Linares
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DEPUTY
Jack Linares serves as a Community Affairs Deputy for Dr. Rocio Rivas for schools in DTLA, Pico-Union, MacArthur Park, Rampart Village, Filipinotown, East Hollywood, Silverlake, Los Feliz, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, and Highland Park. Jack grew up in an undocumented community in MacArthur Park, where he currently resides. He is a proud LAUSD and Board District 2 alumnus, where he attended Union Avenue Elementary, Commonwealth Avenue Elementary, Virgil Middle School, and Los Angeles High School of the Arts. Jack’s experience with poverty, domestic violence, and structural inequities drove him to become a passionate organizer for an equitable economy with strong public schools. Jack’s LAUSD education gave him the tools necessary to succeed and graduate from Hamilton College with a B.A. in History and CUNY Murphy Institute with a M.A. in Labor Studies. In his spare time, he volunteers with Democratic Socialists of America on international relations and immigrant rights.
Email Jack at j.surialinares@lausd.net
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Jazmin Garcia
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DEPUTY
Jazmin Garcia lives in East Los Angeles, a community she cherishes, where she has cultivated her activism and leadership. She earned a Political Science degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and has participated in various grassroots groups and organizations as an activist and organizer. Her interest in educational justice sparked when she began to see a shift in the direction of our current public educational system. She believes vibrant public education is fundamental to a healthy and thriving society. An LAUSD parent and community organizer, she has spent the last decade advocating for public schools and initiatives to support equity in LAUSD. Her deep passion for educational justice is centered in her work as community affairs deputy for Board District 2.
She enjoys spending outdoor time with her daughter and looks forward to reading beside her every night.
Email Jazmin at jazmin.garcia3@lausd.net
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Erica Vilardi Espinosa
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DEPUTY
Erica Vilardi-Espinosa is an LAUSD parent of two, a Los Feliz Neighborhood Council member, and a long-time public school volunteer who has spearheaded fundraising efforts for her neighborhood’s elementary, middle, and high school campuses. Before her years on the Neighborhood Council, Ms. Vilardi began her career as an online e-commerce and fashion manufacturer. Her company graced the pages of Vogue, In Style, Harpers Bazaar, and German Vogue. As a manufacturer, Erica first realized that her interest lay in accounting, finance, and brand partnerships. After leaving the e-commerce space, she moved on to the film industry, working in production accounting on multiple productions. She brings her experience as an accountant, manufacturer, fundraiser, and interest in local politics to her work with Dr. Rivas and the Board District 2 team, where she will focus on partnerships to expand the resources and opportunities to LAUSD students.
Email Erica at e.vilardiespinos@lausd.net