Archive

By Lookout Staff

January 16 -- Assembly member Julia Brownley, who served two terms on the Santa Monica Malibu School Board, was named “2008 Legislator of the Year” by the California League of High Schools (CLHS).

The award was presented last week at the League’s Annual Conference in Monterey – “High Schools as Learning Communities: Engaging Students to Close the Achievement Gap” – which was attended by 800 high school teachers and administrators.

Brownley, who just completed her freshman year on the legislature, was selected for her “proactive, practical approach to crafting legislation that benefits student learning and students’ futures.”

Among the legislation Brownley sponsored were bills to make instructional materials pricing more transparent and to require alternative measures by which high school students unable to pass the California High School Exit Exam could still demonstrate competence and receive their diploma.

“With the serious budget challenges that we face this year, especially in education, it was inspiring to observe the commitment to educational excellence that is shared by the teachers and administrators attending this conference,” Brownley said.

“These amazing educators give me hope that we can all work together to succeed in bringing opportunity to every child and successfully close the achievement gap,” she said.

CLHS is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to improving the professional knowledge of high school educators so that all students may experience academic and life success.