Kathy Flores, Fellow

Westwood Charter Elementary

Los Angeles, CA

Kathy Flores has been serving public schools in Los Angeles since 1988 and she has been the principal of Westwood Charter Elementary in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) since 2013. She graduated from California State University, Northridge, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies (Elementary Education) and Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. She received her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from National University. Throughout her tenure with LAUSD, she has served as a Classroom Paraprofessional, Classroom Teacher, Mentor Teacher, Literacy Coach, English Learner Coordinator, Title I Coordinator, Intervention Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Kathy is the school leader of a large elementary school that enrolls students from the surrounding community and from communities across LAUSD. Westwood consistently exceeds District and State benchmarks across all metrics and has been recognized as a California Distinguished School. Shared leadership and strong relationships are the foundation of Kathy’s work with all stakeholders which creates a collaborative community where students develop skills to become critical thinkers and responsible global citizens, where they are compassionate, inclusive, resilient, perseverant, resourceful, and ethical. She encourages students and staff to meet their fullest potential by providing an environment that is safe, values diversity, and encourages problem-solving collaboration. The positive school climate is directly linked to continued student achievement and the results are evident in her school achievement and climate data.

Kathy’s school was recognized by the state as a 2023 California Distinguished School. Her school is 1 of 9 elementary schools in Los Angeles that received this recognition.

Stella D’Arceaux, Ally

Teacher
Westwood Charter Elementary

Los Angeles, CA

Stella Nagac D’Arceaux teaches upper elementary students at Westwood Charter School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and then received her credential and masters in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount University. Stella is passionate about Social Studies education and promotes inquiry, dialogue, analysis of historical concepts, and experiential learning with her students. She has participated in several Social Studies fellowships across the United States and is inspired when collaborating with teachers and educational leaders.