LBUSD Employee Spotlight

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Stephanie Seecof, Dean at Cabrillo High School

At Cabrillo High School, Stephanie Seecof is a trusted presence, a listener, and a steady source of encouragement for students navigating both challenges and successes. Known for her contagious smile and open-door approach, Ms. Seecof builds meaningful relationships that help students feel seen, heard, and supported every day. Her ability to connect authentically creates a sense of belonging that strengthens the entire school community.

Recently, Ms. Seecof brought learning to life in a powerful way by coordinating a visit from Chef Chad Phuong, owner of Battambong BBQ, who shared his journey of launching a successful mobile barbecue business with Cabrillo’s Rising Leaders students. What began as a conversation about entrepreneurship quickly became an immersive experience. Students gained firsthand insight into the realities of building a business, from selecting wood to smoke meats for flavor, to navigating the risks, resilience, and perseverance required to turn a dream into a thriving enterprise.

Chef Chad didn’t just speak about his work, he demonstrated it. Students had the opportunity to taste the brisket he prepared on-site, ask candid questions about entrepreneurship, and see what passion paired with discipline truly looks like. The experience connected classroom learning to real-world ambition in a way that was tangible, memorable, and inspiring.

Through opportunities like this, Ms. Seecof continues to expand learning beyond the classroom, exposing students to career pathways and life skills that inspire confidence in their own futures. Her dedication to relationships, relevance, and authentic learning experiences makes a lasting impact at Cabrillo High School and exemplifies the power of leadership that meets students where they are, and challenges them to dream bigger.

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Laura Thron, Wellness Center Social Worker at Stanford Middle School

At Stanford Middle School, Wellness Center Social Worker Laura Thron is a connector, a catalyst, and a champion for students. Known as a master of external collaboration, Laura brings partners, resources, and opportunities directly to campus, transforming ideas into experiences that uplift the entire school community.

Laura’s work is rooted in one belief: students thrive when they feel supported, seen, and inspired. Whether she is organizing schoolwide events or cultivating partnerships that expand access to critical services, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure Stanford students and families have what they need to succeed.

Her impact is seen, and felt, across campus. Laura leads the Annual Female Empowerment Fair, introducing students to women leaders and organizations that inspire confidence and possibility. She launched a High School Video Project connecting Stanford alumni with eighth graders to share real-world advice about the transition ahead. She has coordinated letter-writing efforts for children’s hospitals, guided students in creating music for the school’s annual coin drive, and leads a mental health club that gives students space to grow, reflect, and support one another.

Each initiative reflects Laura’s signature approach: intentional, collaborative, and centered on belonging.

Through her creativity, tireless energy, and unwavering heart for students, Laura Thron is supporting wellness and building a culture of connection and care that defines the Stanford experience.

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Carol Henderson, High School Office Supervisor at Avalon

For Carol Henderson, getting to work is not a routine commute. It’s a journey of purpose. Each day begins with a boat ride across the water to Avalon, a trip she makes alongside fellow staff members; quite frankly, they’re all in the same boat. The ride can take an hour or more, but one she makes willingly, year after year, because of the people waiting for her on the other side.

Carol has been part of the Avalon school community since 2009, when she first joined the District as a substitute teacher. Her dedication and steady leadership led her to become the High School Office Supervisor, a role she carries out with precision, care, and a signature no-nonsense approach balanced by warmth and kindness. Colleagues know her as someone who gets the job done. She’s thorough, dependable, and always focused on what’s best for students and staff.

What truly sets Carol apart, however, is why she stays.

Avalon is more than a workplace. It’s a small island community where everyone knows each other, where relationships run deep, and where the school is at the center of daily life. Over the years, Carol has built lasting connections with students, families, and colleagues, connections that feel more like family than coworkers or neighbors.

“I’m dedicated to the students, to the town,” Carol said. “I have family who go to school here, students that I taught are now parents, I get to see them and their kids grow up.” 

That continuity is what makes the long commute meaningful. 

“It’s a unique opportunity for me to see kids for a large chunk of their life, see them grow, change, and mature into young adults. It’s truly a rewarding feeling.”

Working on an island comes with unique challenges. Staffing can be difficult. Travel depends on weather and ferry schedules. On any given day, unexpected hurdles arise, like boats delayed or being short multiple teachers. In fact, when I called Carol on February 18 to interview her, she calmly shared that the boats hadn’t run, she was 15 teachers short, and parents were standing in front of her waiting for answers. That’s Carol, steady, solution-oriented, and handling whatever comes her way.

Her daily voyage across the harbor is a reflection of her commitment: showing up, no matter what, because she values the rare opportunity to watch generations of Avalon students grow up, graduate, and return as families of their own.

“For me, the ability to see that, it’s emotional, it’s moving, it’s the tradition of this place. It’s the uniqueness, it keeps me coming back.”

Carol’s story is one of loyalty, resilience, and heart. She doesn’t just work in Avalon, she belongs to it. And thanks to her steadfast presence, generations of students and families know they can count on someone who will always make the trip, always lend a hand, and always treat them like family.

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Ruth Lisha, Parent Facilitator at Franklin Middle School

At Franklin, Ruth Lisha is a driving force behind building strong, lasting connections between families and the school community. Through her unwavering dedication to family engagement, advocacy, and partnership, she has created systems that ensure families feel informed, valued, and welcomed. From weekly family meetings and Sunday newsletters to ELAC gatherings and School Site Council participation, Ruth’s work keeps communication consistent and relationships strong.

One of Ruth’s most memorable efforts is the school’s annual Winter Wonderland celebration. Under her leadership, the gym transforms into a festive experience that has welcomed more than 100 Franklin families. Partnering with The Garden Church and over 70 volunteers, the event provides activities, warm meals, and meaningful support during the holiday season. Families leave gifts like shoes, gift cards, and other essentials, but also with a renewed sense of belonging and care from their school community.

Ruth’s leadership is especially impactful during challenging times. She has proactively connected families with trusted community partners and resources, creating safe spaces for dialogue, sharing accurate information, and ensuring families feel supported and empowered. Her responsiveness and advocacy demonstrate a deep commitment to the well-being of every family Franklin serves.

Beyond events and outreach, Ruth leads weekly grocery distributions, coordinates service opportunities like the Fix-It Clinic with Algalita, and facilitates parent education courses that strengthen family relationships and directly support student success.

Her leadership has transformed parent engagement at Franklin Middle School, making a lasting difference for students, families, and the entire school community. We thank you, Ruth!

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Gerard Maliwat, Head Counselor SATO Academy

At SATO Academy, excellence is the expectation. Students are high-achieving, driven, and deeply committed to their futures. Behind nearly 600 of those students stands one steady presence: Gerard Maliwat.

Gerard is SATO’s only counselor.

There is no department. No backup team down the hall. If a student is navigating college applications, managing the pressure of Advanced Placement coursework, facing a personal crisis, adjusting a 504 plan, reviewing an IEP, or simply needing someone to talk to, Gerard is the one who shows up.

Every. Single. Time.

He writes letters of recommendation that help open doors to universities. He guides families through postsecondary planning. He manages SEL needs. He supports students in moments of crisis. He balances academic rigor with emotional care in a school where expectations are high and the pressure can be intense.

And somehow, he does it all with calm.

Colleagues describe him as steady, kind, and unshakable. Never rattled, never hurried, never too busy to listen. Students know his door is open. They know when they walk in, they will be heard. In a school full of overachievers striving for the next milestone, Gerard is the constant reminder that success also requires balance, support, and humanity.

Before coming to SATO, Gerard served students at Lakewood, bringing with him deep knowledge of college readiness and student advocacy. Today, he is the architect of SATO’s counseling foundation, building systems, nurturing relationships, and holding together every moving part of student support.

He is a father, soon to be a grandfather. And that spirit of care shows in how he treats every student; not as a number in a caseload, but as a young person with a future worth investing in.

Gerard’s grit and dedication are unmatched. Being the only counselor at a high-performing school is not a small responsibility. It requires resilience, heart, and relentless commitment. And hundreds of students are better prepared for life because of him.

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Sherita Clemons, Principal at Stevenson

At Stevenson Elementary, Principal Shareta Clemons brings a leadership style that is equal parts fierce advocate, trusted mentor, and steady presence for her community. She leads with clarity, compassion, and an unshakable belief in children, showing up every day ready to stand for students and partner with families. Her approach is direct, honest, and deeply relational; she speaks with parents the way you would speak to family, building trust through transparency and care.

Clemons’ path in Long Beach Unified is grounded in service. She began as an elementary teacher at Harte, then a TOSA, Intervention Specialist, Admin Assistant in the elementary school office, where she quickly became known as someone who made things happen for kids and families. She helped lead events like Kinder Fest, creating welcoming spaces where families could learn, connect, and feel confident about their child’s first steps into school.  

She went on to serve as assistant principal at Roosevelt and later at Herrera, and Dooley, where her impact was so meaningful that families advocated for her to remain. That kind of response doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when leadership is authentic and rooted in love for community.

Now in her first year as principal at Stevenson, Clemons is building a culture where expectations are high, relationships are strong, and every child is known. She brings both accountability and encouragement, making sure students are challenged academically while also feeling supported, valued, and inspired.

An avid traveler with a vibrant, magnetic presence, Clemons brings curiosity and confidence into every space she enters. That energy carries throughout Stevenson into classrooms, into family partnerships, and into the belief that every student can succeed.

Principal Clemons shows what it looks like to lead with purpose, pride, and deep commitment to the community she serves.

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Jonah Magee HBCU College & Career Coordinator | Center of Black Student Excellence

Despite budget cuts that limited student travel to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Jonah Magee refused to let opportunity shrink.

He brought it home.

Through the HBCU Caravan initiative, more than 40 HBCUs visited Long Beach Polytechnic's campuses this school year, resulting in more than $1 million in scholarship offers and life-changing on-the-spot admissions opportunities for our students. Bringing the HBCU experience to LBUSD is a vision Jonah began in 2024, with over 300 families attending his first districtwide event.

But numbers alone don’t capture Jonah. He is super kind. Deeply understanding. Relentlessly student-centered, especially when it comes to uplifting and advocating for our young Black men. 

Jonah once said, “Sometimes life be lifeing.”

It’s the phrase students use when setbacks pile up. When responsibilities hit early. When barriers feel heavy. And Jonah’s response? Meet them where they are. Walk with them through it. Help them knock down those barriers,and get to the other side!

That mindset is personal.

Jonah is a product of Poly High, a Jackrabbit through and through. He knows these halls. He knows this community. And he is fiercely committed to everything Black and LBUSD. He isn’t just coordinating college visits. He is restoring belief. He is widening access. He is ensuring our students see themselves in spaces built for excellence.

That’s impact. That’s heart. That’s why we proudly Spotlight Jonah Magee.

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Spud O’Neil, ICONIC Head Baseball Coach at Lakewood

For more than three decades, Coach Spud O’Neil built Lakewood baseball into one of the most respected programs in the region, mentoring generations of student-athletes and teaching lessons that extended far beyond the diamond. As he prepares to retire this year, his legacy is defined not only by championships, but by the character, resilience, and work ethic he instilled in every player who wore a Lancer uniform.

“I have spent the last 31 years watching the career of Spud O’Neil unfold into the legendary coach we celebrate today,” Lakewood High Athletic Director Mike Wadley said. “The moment that stands out most came in 2005, when Lakewood did not qualify for the playoffs for the first, and only, time in school history. The boys were devastated, and it showed in the quad when the brackets were released. It was hard to watch, especially for the seniors who would not get another chance.

“Coach didn’t have many words that day,” Wadley added. “His message was simple: the only way to change the outcome was to work harder and earn one of those playoff spots the following year.”

And that’s exactly what they did!

The very next season, the team returned with a different mindset; tougher, more determined, and united. That year Lakewood went on to win the Moore League Championship and the CIF championship game at Angel Stadium against a team led by future Major Leaguer Travis d’Arnaud, now a catcher for the Los Angeles Angels. I will never forget that game. Lakewood won it in the bottom of the seventh inning with a tremendous hit to right field, scoring the runner from second base.

“In one season,” Wadley explained, “the team went from the outhouse to the penthouse, a transformation that perfectly reflected Coach O’Neil’s philosophy: ‘Two outs… so what.’”

Millikan High School Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach Jason von Arx said O’Neil’s reputation extends well beyond Lakewood’s campus. “He’s probably forgotten more about baseball than others know about it. He’s truly one of the best high school baseball coaches ever.”

“Few educators leave the kind of lasting mark that Coach O’Neil has left on Lakewood High School,” Principal Mona Merlo said. “Through decades of leadership, Coach O’Neil built a program grounded in grit, accountability, and values that continue to shape the lives of the players he coached long after they leave the field. Lakewood baseball will forever carry his imprint.”

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Wendy Ili, Assistant Principal at Nelson

There was a student who struggled to experience joy. She was withdrawn. Defensive. Frequently unresponsive to staff. She regularly disregarded the schoolwide cell phone policy.

It would have been easy to focus on the behavior. Dr. Wendy Ili chose to focus on the child.

She took the student under her wing, walking her to class, conducting frequent check-ins, and creating structure through a behavior and attendance contract. She met with the student and her family monthly to build consistency between home and school. She became the trusted adult the student reported to each morning to turn in her phone, transforming accountability into routine, and routine into stability.

When connection was needed, Dr. Ili encouraged her to join the basketball team. Yes, to play the sport. But more importantly, to belong. Dr. Ili often tells students that challenges are part of the journey. She believes her responsibility is to provide the steady support and structure that helps them move forward, one step at a time. Because of Dr. Ili’s consistency, care, and relentless relationship-building, the student made a complete turnaround. Today, she is one of Nelson’s strongest students.

This is the work of an assistant principal who leads with heart.

Dr. Wendy Ili doesn’t just manage systems, she restores belief, builds structure, and ensures students know they are seen, supported, and capable of thriving.

That is impact. That is leadership. That is why we proudly Spotlight Dr. Wendy Ili.