A quiet and important transition took place last week, with little fanfare and no press coverage. That is not surprising to me at all; in fact, that is probably just how Mary Stanton wanted it. Mrs. Stanton finished her sixth and final term on the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education in the manner in which she has always conducted herself on the board, with impeccable professionalism and putting the business of educating students ahead of anything else.
Mary won her first election in 1990 and has been a dedicated public servant working on behalf of the students, staff, teachers and families of the district for over two decades. She has seen the district though times of great financial success and during the unprecedented challenges of the last six years.
Her tenure included some significant policy changes such as district-wide uniform implementation, No Child Left Behind, the Common Core State Standards and the Local Control funding formula. She has been a strong and steady voice for students and families throughout all of these changes.
Congresswoman Janice Hahn, who represents parts of north Long Beach, as well as newly elected Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, were on hand and spoke eloquently to Mrs. Stanton’s tenure on the Board, as well her many contributions to the greater Long Beach community. Representatives from Congressman Alan Lowenthal’s office, State Senator Ricardo Lara’s office, Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal’s office, and the President of Long Beach Council PTA were also on hand to offer thanks and recognition to Mrs. Stanton. Though she did not expect it or ask for it, acknowledging her dedication and service was appropriate and important for us as a community.
It is an honor to be sitting in Mrs. Stanton’s seat, and it is a responsibility that I take very seriously. I will work every day to follow Mary’s example of putting the educational needs of Long Beach students first.
Thank you, Mary, for all you have done for Long Beach students and families.
Megan Kerr
LBUSD School Board Member
District 1
