Dear Friends

As the President for AAPA, I am proud of the organization and its members. Through your efforts, we were able to give scholarships to fifteen deserving LAUSD graduates despite difficult financial times.  In times such as these, our students appreciate any financial support they can receive as they start their journey into higher education facing tuition hikes and increase in cost of living.

Under the leadership of Superintendent John Deasy, LAUSD is going through many changes to “weather the storm” as well as to continue the progress we have made. AAPA plans to continue to provide support for professional growth to our members in whatever form needed as we adapt to our changing environment.

Please take time to join us for one of our upcoming events for the 2011-2012 school year and you will not be disappointed.

Jina Kim-Qvale, 

AAPA President

One of the main goals of the Alliance of Asian Pacific Administrators is to provide financial assistance to deserving Asian / Pacific Island seniors who wish to further their career goals through post high school education.  This can include, but is not limited to, a two year junior college or a state accredited private trade school.  This year, AAPA is offering scholarships of $2,000 each.  Applicants are advised to carefully read and follow the application procedures listed below:

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

• Is of Asian / Pacific Island Asian ancestry
• Will be a graduating senior of the Los Angeles Unified School District in June 2012
• Has maintained at least a 2.5 grade point average or better with evidence of good character, citizenship, and school / community service.

Applications can be downloaded from our Resources page.

The annual fall social was a great success.  It was nice to hear from and meet new LAUSD School Board Member Bennett Kayser.   He has already begun to impact our district by setting policy that is supportive of district employees and our students.  Special thanks to all of you who donated and contibuted to the Silent Auction.  Your contributions raised enough to offer an additional AAPA Scholarship for a deserving LAUSD graduate.

The Annual AAPA Scholarship Dinner was an evening enjoyed by all with an uplifting drum and dance routine performed by students in the Dual Language Korean Program from Cahuenga Elementary School.  With various education groups coming together to celebrate with our scholarship recipients, we could not be prouder of our students.  This year AAPA was able to award 17 scholarships to deserving students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds that represent the diversity across our district.  Our special thanks go to the scholarship committee headed by Dr. Mary Hall, Donna Hirota, John Kim, Audrey Woo, Carol Kateyama, and Wade Hayashida for selecting outstanding recipients from the class of 2011.  In addition, we would like to thank AALA, Gary Kranz Sr., and Kranz Photo for their generous monetary donations and the wonderful portraits that each family received.  With help from the LAUSD school board each student also received board certificates for their outstanding contributions and achievements.  We wish all of the students the best as they open the next chapter in their life as they begin college. 
This years recipients were:

Wai Chan - Woodrow Wilson High School

Casey Ellis - King Drew Magnet High School

Danielle Feuer - North Hollywood High School

Kimberly Figuracion - Sylmar High School

Miwa Fukuyasu - Hollywood High School

Jessica Hong - Cleveland High School

Damian Kim - Los Angeles High School

Crystal Kumtong - Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies

Ann Wai Yee Kwong - John Marshall High School

Shenghe Liu - Academic Leadership Community High School

Caesar Nije - Downtown Business Magnet High School

Brian Junsung Oh - Van Nuys High School

Christine Mae Talens - Venice High School

Sean Joseph Tan - Belmont High School

Tina Tran - Carson High School

Khanda Vong - John Marshall High School

April Wu - Cleveland High School

Dear Friends,

As the outgoing President for AAPA, I am proud of the organization, members, and the progress the group has made over the last two years.  Through your efforts, we were able to increase the number of scholarships given to deserving LAUSD graduates despite difficult financial times.  On several occasions I have heard how the scholarships have helped previous recipients to relieve some of the financial burden that they face as they enter college.  In addition to our extensive scholarship programs, we have managed to create a website that members, students, and the general public can access.

We continue to hold our professional development conference every year and have had speakers that are able to address the needs of our various members.  We have had speakers discuss both financial and physical health to help our members stay healthy and wealthy.  As the year progressed, we held our largest principal study group ever.  With over 155 people in attendance every Wednesday night for three months, the groups descended upon Frank Del Olmo Elementary School and utilized every inch of the auditorium, multiple classrooms, and the library. 

During the past couple of years, both Mr. Ramon Cortines and Dr. John Deasy were able to address our membership and share their insights as Superintendent.  Being a large organization of retired and active members has also had it's challenges.  Communicating with all stakeholders has proved quite a challenge and I am every thankful for Carole Takaki who is now heading communication with our retired members and Donna Hirota who is constantly sending emails to our current members.  Meanwhile, Angel Chan and Brian Sida have been active in updating membership lists, checking payroll deduction cards, and wisely investing our funds. 

With the new school year coming and many new members joining the AAPA leadership team, I am confident that Jina Kim Qvale will take AAPA to the next level both socially and politically.  She brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization and will continue the legacy of previous AAPA Presidents.   Please take time to join us for one of our upcoming events for the 2011-2012 school year and you will not be disappointed.

Dean Tagawa, 

AAPA President

AAPA congratulates the Los Angeles Unified School District in the renaming of the Gardena/Carson Community Adult School after George Kiriyama.  Mr Kiriyama served the district as an educator, administrator, and Board Member.  In addition, Mr. Kiriyama was a founding member and Past Board President of AAPA.  He was instrumental in beginning the Asian American Educator's Association scholarship (now AAPA) and would be proud to see how his organizations have contributed over a 1/2 million dollars to deserving LAUSD seniors. On February 4, 2011, his wife Iku, family members, AAPA members,  Superintendent Ramon Cortines, Board Vice President Richard Vladovic and Local District 5 Superintendent Michael Romero honored the great work of Mr. Kiriyama during the renaming ceremony.