Board Members
The HBCSD Board of Education comprises five members who are elected residents of the City of Hermosa Beach. Below, you will find their background and contact information.
Jennifer Cole (President) - [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.
Catherine Barrow (Vice President/Clerk) - [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.
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.
Carol Reid Kluthe - [email protected] - Current Term 12/2024 - 12/2028
Carol Reid Kluthe has been a proud resident of Hermosa Beach since 2010 and is a dedicated parent of two children who have gone through Hermosa Schools. An active community member with a BSc with a specialization in Psychology from the University of Alberta, she brings a wealth of professional expertise in project management leadership in healthcare and telecommunications. Carol's involvement in education began when her children started school. She served eight years as a Hermosa Beach Education Foundation (HBEF) board member, including three years as President, fostering stronger ties between the district and local businesses. During COVID-19, Carol worked with the Superintendent as part of the reopening committee, helping HBCSD become one of the first districts in LA County to reopen. Over the years, she has worked with the district and staff on initiatives such as textbook adoption reviews and served on the Local Control and Accountability Plan committee for six years, contributing to the effective allocation of state funding. Carol looks forward to continuing to be a champion of quality public education in Hermosa Beach.
Rachel VanLandingham - r[email protected] - Current Term 12/2024 - 12/2028
Rachel VanLandingham is a ten-year Hermosa Beach resident and a mother of two active Hermosa teens who have been in Hermosa schools since kindergarten. A lifelong public servant, Rachel joined the U.S. Air Force when she was 18, serving 24 years on active duty around the globe as a military officer, including in Afghanistan and Iraq; she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. A professional educator for the decade-plus since leaving active duty, Rachel is currently a tenured law school professor and associate dean for research at Southwestern Law School in downtown Los Angeles, one of the state’s oldest and most diverse law schools. Rachel is also President Emerita and current board member of a national nonprofit focusing on improving military justice for service members after leading that organization for nine years in a pro bono capacity. As a professional educator and mom of a son with Type 1 Diabetes, Rachel uniquely understands the strong parent-school-teacher relationship necessary for inclusive & supportive academic environments of excellence where all children in Hermosa schools can thrive, and is dedicated to sustaining and reinforcing such environments. She loves spending time with her two boys, stand-up paddle boarding on our beautiful ocean, running and reading, and is always happy to listen to fellow Hermosans about our amazing schools.
To contact all the school board members, email them at [email protected].