The Council of Black Administrators (COBA) aim to help African American students succeed by addressing and resolving issues that are unique to young people of color.
The organization, which is comprised of Los Angeles Unified School District educators, has worked since 1968 to fulfill their mission by focusing on areas such as quality education, promotional and transfer policies and tailored workshops to aid Black personnel and community members.
Among the ongoing programs that the group presents are the Black Child Conference, the Saturday Success Academy, the Multicultural Coalition and the Dollars for Scholars Foundation. Also, COBA is recognized by LAUSD as an approved educational organization.
Celebrating COBA’s 50th anniversary last month, the group renewed their commitment to working with LAUSD to ensure that the interests of African American staff, along with children and parents, are considered to prevent inequalities in the district’s management and students’ curriculum.
The celebration included remarks by Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer, 59th Assembly District; Dr. George J. McKenna, LAUSD board member and COBA past president; and Dr. Kandice McLurkin, COBA president. Doris M. Dillard, management consultant and past president; and Roshaun Gendrett, dean at Mann UCLA Community School, participated as well.
In their efforts to assist all students of color, COBA has formed working relationships with the Alliance of Asian Pacific Administrators, the Association of Jewish Educators, the Association of Mexican American Educators, the Council of Mexican American Administrators, and the L.A. County Alliance of Black Educators.
COBA’s 2019 executive board, in addition to McLurkin and Dillard, consists of Dr. Jamila Gillenwaters, vice president; Simone R. Charles, immediate past president; Jessica L. Thomas, recording secretary; Cheri D. Hodo, corresponding secretary; Donald S. Moorer, treasurer; Dr. Travis D. Brandy, financial secretary; Dr. Robert Whitman, parliamentarian; Joseph Luckett, historian; Regina D. Myles, quasi-administrative liaison; and Josephine C. Ruffin, executive secretary.
To learn more, visit coba.hbdragons.com.
