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Larry Torres Elected President of the Pasadena Unified Board of Education
Education May 09, 2018
Photo Courtesy of Savannah Lauren.
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Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education elected Larry Torres as its president. – Courtesy photo / PUSD
At its annual organizational meeting on May 7, 2018, the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education elected Larry Torres as its President. Patrick Cahalan was elected Vice President and Scott Phelps was elected Clerk.
“It is such an incredible honor to be voted President of the Board,” said Mr. Torres. “I cannot say enough about the hard work I have experienced personally in this district on behalf of our children. I am proud and honored to lead this organization.”
Mr. Torres was elected to the Board of Education in 2015 and is the first board member to represent the newly drawn District 6. He has previously served as Board Vice President and Clerk. A National Board Certified Teacher, Mr. Torres began his teaching career in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1986 and was a pioneer in the middle school movement. Since 1993, he has been a teacher and coordinator at the City of Angels, an alternative K-12 program that works with students who need a non-traditional educational experience. Mr. Torres has a Bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, a Master’s degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and a Master’s degree from the UCLA Graduate School of Education. Prior to his election to the Board of Education, Mr. Torres served on school site councils at Sierra Madre Elementary School, Sierra Madre Middle School, and Pasadena High School. He lives in Sierra Madre with his wife and two daughters.
Mr. Cahalan, named Vice President, was elected to the Board in 2015 and represents District 4. He is Manager of Technical Operations for the Computational and Mathematical Sciences (CMS) Department at Caltech. Mr. Cahalan has a long career in education and technology and has taught technology classes and workshops for high school and college-level students, faculty, and staff. He served on the PUSD District Advisory Council and the Longfellow Elementary school site council.
Scott Phelps, who was elected to the Board of Education in 2005 and represents District 7, was named Clerk. Mr. Phelps served as president of the board in 2014-2015 and as Vice-President twice. Mr. Phelps is an instructor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of La Verne and Mt. San Antonio College and has served as a consultant for external evaluations of federal and state school reform grants received by school districts.
“Congratulations to Mr. Torres on his new role,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald. “I look forward to working together with him and the Board as a team of eight to deliver excellent educational opportunities for every student.”
