Los Angeles Education Partnership
Dawn A. Kurtz, Ph.D., is an accomplished leader in the education and child development sectors, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Program Officer at Los Angeles Education Partnership since February 2023. Previously, Dawn held prominent positions at Child360 (formerly LAUP) from July 2011 to May 2022 as the Chief Research Officer and Chief Program Officer. Additionally, Dawn contributed to First 5 LA as a Senior Research Analyst/Senior Program Officer from August 2005 to June 2011 and directed projects at the Young Adolescent Project at the University of Southern California from 1996 to 2005. Dawn's academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Southern California and a BA in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Education Partnership
Founded in 1984, LAEP is a nonprofit organization that advances educational equity. Together with families, schools and the community, LAEP facilitates access to and opportunities for quality educational and wellness practices so that children thrive from diapers to diplomas. LAEP focuses on two areas that consistently demonstrate positive impact on student achievement: • Transforming schools to expand the capacity of educators, students, and community to share responsibility for producing college and career ready graduates and sustainable change. • Reaching children in early childhood to promote their healthy development and build parents’ capacity to prepare their children for success in school. We believe six core elements must be present for schools to be successful: -High-Quality Instruction -Teacher Leadership & Collaboration -College and Career Readiness -Parents as Partners -Youth Empowerment -Educational Equity