Board Members
The HBCSD Board of Education comprises five members who are elected residents of Hermosa Beach City. Below, you will find their background and contact information.
Quentin Kluthe (President) - [email protected] - Current Term 12/2020 - 12/2024
Quentin Kluthe has been a Hermosa resident since 2010 and has two children in Hermosa schools. Prior to joining the Board, Quentin took an interest in Hermosa Beach education through his kids and his wife's involvement in the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation. That exposure inspired him to join the Board in the hopes of supporting a terrific team of Board members, administrators, teachers, and staff during a challenging time for education. Quentin is looking forward to working on all the Board goals with an emphasis on ensuring the long-term independence of the Hermosa Beach City School District. He believes that will be facilitated by an ongoing focus on providing a superior educational experience and improving the financial sustainability of our district. Quentin graduated from McMaster University with a bachelor’s degree in Arts & Science and got an MBA from Kellogg in Chicago. He is the CEO of PackIt, which makes freezable lunch boxes for kids and families. He has a background in strategy, operations, and finance and looks forward to pitching in wherever he can. He loves Hermosa Beach - the weather, of course, but most importantly, the community spirit that shows itself in the active volunteer base that works tirelessly to support our schools through HVPTO and HBEF. He looks forward to doing his part to help Hermosa's community, schools, and children thrive.
Jennifer Cole (Vice President/Clerk) - [email protected] - Current Term 12/2022 - 12/2026
Jen Cole is a 21-year Hermosa Beach resident, a mother of two native Hermosa teens, and a strong advocate for local kids and families. As the daughter of two lifelong Alaskan educators, Jen developed a passion for working in education. She was a former teacher, principal, adjunct professor, Teach For America '02 Los Angeles Corps Member, and an educational leadership coach who served in various LA public schools, charter schools, and the Cal State University system for over 20 years. Jen believes deeply in the power of schools to drive a community's stability, strength, and culture. She serves on the HBCSD board to help ensure that the next generation of Hermosans has the skills, tools, and opportunities to make a positive impact on the world. On the Board today, Jen focuses her energy on building state-of-the-art school facilities, programs that support inclusion, equity, and wellness, professional development of HBCSD staff, and anything that prioritizes active community listening and conversation. Her priorities include: 1) Safe Schools - campuses, buildings, and programs (including digital citizenship) that make all students feel safe and secure so they can thrive in the school environment. 2) Academic Excellence - a private school education in a public school setting, emphasizing science, arts, and language offerings that challenge and inspire kids to reach their full potential. 3) Inclusion - continuing to prioritize a more equitable and inclusive school environment to help staff and students succeed in a more diverse and dynamic world.
Douglas Gardner - [email protected] - Current Term 12/2020 - 12/2024
Douglas Gardner joined the HBCSD Board of Trustees in October 2017 and is the father of two children currently enrolled in the district. Douglas is the Interim Director of Finance and Operations at Westmark School, a second through twelfth grade school in Encino. Prior to joining Westmark, Douglas was the Chief Operating Officer at Yavneh Hebrew Academy, a pre-K through eighth grade school in Hancock Park. These experiences followed a sixteen year career in the entertainment industry. Douglas graduated with a B.S. with Honors in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, where he and his family are also season ticket holders for the Cardinal football team.
Margaret Bove-LaMonica - [email protected] - Current Term 12/2022 - 12/2026
Maggie Bove-LaMonica has dedicated her professional career to education — as a classroom teacher, administrator, legal advocate, and now coaching teachers in growing their leadership. She is an elected member, and board president, of the Hermosa Beach City School District and an elected delegate to the California School Board Association. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, non-profit administrator, and Adjunct Professor at Loyola Marymount University, she has worked with communities in Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, France, and Morocco. She has spent her career on increasing equity and access for students in urban districts and focuses on building a K-16 pipeline for all kids. A native 'Angelino' and an avid surfer, Maggie resides in Hermosa Beach with her husband, three children, and their dog. She has graduate degrees in Education, Public Policy, and the Law and uses those frameworks to work on education inequality issues and access to civic engagement.
Catherine Barrow - [email protected] - Current Term 12/2022 - 12/2026
Cathy Barrow has been a Hermosa resident since 1980 and is a UCLA graduate with a degree in English Literature. She raised three daughters who attended Hermosa Schools, Mira Costa High School, and on through graduate schools. Cathy was one of the founding members of the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation and participated in HVPTO for many years, including serving as President for three years. She brings a unique perspective to the School Board, having recently retired from the district after serving as an educator at Hermosa Valley for 19 years. As a teacher, she was involved in a variety of committees and strategic planning that helped rank Hermosa in the top 5% of California schools. Cathy is consistently focused on what is ultimately best for HVS students, which includes providing a safe place for them to learn and thrive. She loves the community of Hermosa Beach, the Hermosa Schools, and, most importantly, the students.
To contact school board members, you may email them at [email protected].