LBUSD Employee Spotlight

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Cameron Smith, Director of School Safety

When crisis strikes or confusion arises, Cameron Smith, LBUSD’s Director of School Safety, brings confidence and calm to every situation. While he wears the uniform of an officer, Cameron is truly a community partner, working hand in hand with students, staff, families, and the wider community to strengthen safety and develop proactive strategies that prevent tragedies. His presence on and off campus is reassuring, a reminder that safety is built on relationships and trust.

Beyond his daily work in the field, Cameron partners closely with the Office of Communications to ensure every safety message is clear, factual, accurate, and delivered with care. He understands that in moments of uncertainty, words matter, and he makes sure the District’s communications provide both transparency and reassurance. Whether reviewing messages late at night or responding to an urgent call at 3:00 a.m., Cameron is dependable and prioritizes the well-being of students and staff.

Cameron is leading the development of a new diversion program aimed at reducing unnecessary interactions between students and police officers. This initiative is designed to create new pathways for young people, moving them away from punitive systems and toward opportunities for support, healing, and growth. It is a bold step forward that strengthens safety and advances equity, dignity, and the promise of brighter futures for LBUSD students.

Cameron’s dedication to safety is a true calling. His tireless commitment ensures that LBUSD’s schools, families, and communities remain safe and supported every day. Thanks to his leadership and compassion, we can all feel confident knowing that our campuses are in capable hands. Today, we proudly salute Cameron Smith for his extraordinary service to LBUSD.

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Amy Love, Restorative Justice Coordinator

When a serious conflict arose at one of our schools, it could have easily left lasting harm in the school community. Instead, Amy Love, LBUSD’s Restorative Justice Coordinator, brought the students, their families, and school staff together for a “Harm and Conflict Circle.” In that circle, voices were heard, accountability was taken, and healing began. What could have ended in division became an opportunity for growth, community, and reconciliation.

That process reflects Amy’s work across her 30-year career in Long Beach Unified. She has an extraordinary ability to transform challenges into opportunities for students to learn, repair, and thrive. The students who once sat in that circle are now in high school, playing sports, maintaining their grades, and staying focused on their future. Amy continues to check in with them monthly, ensuring they remain on the right path.

For Amy, restorative justice is a promise! She reminds students that they are valued and supported from the moment they arrive until the day they graduate. Students describe her as warm, reliable, and selfless, always willing to “go hard” for them when it matters most.

Through her dedication, Amy Love has demonstrated what is possible when schools and communities collaborate: harm can be healed, trust can be rebuilt, and students can achieve success.

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Dr. Julie Sparks, Vice Principal at Poly High

At Long Beach Poly, Dr. Julie Sparks is known as “clutch,” the person you can count on, no matter the challenge. There is no task too small or too significant for her, and she embodies Poly pride in every way, “bleeding green” just like the school’s most famous alum, Snoop! Her resilience and dependability have made her an anchor for students, families, and colleagues alike.

When plans began for Poly’s historic, campus-wide transformation, Dr. Sparks was on the frontlines from day one. She walked the campus with construction crews, studied blueprints and schematics, donned her hard hat, and quite literally left her footprints in cement, symbolically and physically cementing her O.G. legacy in Poly’s future. Her leadership, attention to detail, and willingness to roll up her sleeves ensured that the project launched with energy, precision, and heart.

Whether she is greeting students and families at the front gate, responding to emails and phone calls, or supporting teachers through the daily demands of school life, Dr. Sparks approaches every responsibility with calm, focus, and resolve. She is, as her colleagues say, “clutch, clutch,” the Shohei Ohtani of Poly, consistently delivering, always leading, and always representing the best of Poly. 

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Hemina Lilani, Educational Research Analyst II

For more than 18 years, Hemina Lilani has been a cornerstone of LBUSD, combining deep institutional knowledge with rare technical and managerial expertise. Starting her career in accounting, Hemina quickly emerged as a problem-solver driven by purpose and precision. Today, she stands at the center of our District’s data systems, ensuring that the Superintendent’s goals, Board of Education priorities, and guardrails are advanced with clarity. 

Colleagues describe Hemina as the architect behind the scenes, turning data into clear, practical dashboards in Power BI that guide our daily decisions and help the District stay on track. She translates systems into actionable insights, enabling teams across the District to connect their work to collective success. Whether it’s launching a new initiative, sustaining critical infrastructure, or quarterbacking a focused, motivating, and win-oriented huddle much like Jalen Hurts, Hemina always lifts her team and the entire organization. 

What sets Hemina apart is her expertise, humility, and work ethic. She never asks anyone to do something she wouldn’t do herself, modeling a leadership style rooted in service and collaboration. Her impact is everywhere: in the accuracy of our data, the strength of our systems, and the confidence of colleagues who know they can rely on her. In every sense, Hemina is a brainiac, a builder, and a quiet force powering the success of LBUSD. Let’s all take a moment to celebrate Ms. Hemina!

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Lori Grady, Principal Holmes Elementary

For over seven years, Principal Lori Grady has led Holmes Elementary with a spirit of joy, resilience, and a relentless commitment to student success. Under her leadership, test scores have consistently risen, reflecting both her high expectations and her ability to uplift and inspire those around her.

Lori exudes positivity in every moment. Whether she’s facing a challenge or celebrating a win, she turns every situation into an opportunity for growth. Her presence makes everyone on campus feel welcome and supported. She models a “students first” approach, where no challenge is too great to tackle and no role is beneath her. Whether that means helping in the cafeteria, walking the yard, or supporting teachers in classrooms, she leads with humility and a smile.

Her impact is especially felt in Holmes’ substantial academic gains among African American students, showing her commitment to equity and excellence across the board. She sets a high bar, encourages continuous professional development among staff, and ensures that all students meet and exceed standards.

At Holmes, leadership means joy, service, and the belief that every child can achieve at the highest level. Principal Grady embodies that belief daily, making Holmes Elementary a place where students thrive and the community shines.

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Mary Seidman, Parent Community Facilitator at Lafayette Elementary

Before Lafayette Elementary kicked off the 2025-2026 school year, families gathered for the Welcome Back BBQ. Kids laughed, parents hugged, and the smell of grilled food filled the air. At the center of it all was Mary Seidman, moving from table to table, making sure every family felt seen. A child who needed a uniform found one in her hands. A parent uncertain about how to get involved walked away with confidence and an invitation to ELAC. That’s Mary, always giving, always connecting.

Her work is about trust. Parents call her their safe space, their person. They know she’ll listen, guide, and fight for them. Through the Sankofa parent village, she has helped build capacity where families gather and thrive. Because of her leadership, parent voices are helping to shape Lafayette into a true community school.

One moment that captures her spirit occurred during the Latino Heritage Month celebration at Cabrillo, when Mary organized a group of student and parent performers. For those children and their families, it wasn’t just a performance—it was a moment of pride, identity, and belonging. Mary stood in the wings, smiling, knowing she had helped create a memory that would last a lifetime.

Whether it’s leading a “Know Your Rights” campaign, partnering with organizations, or simply offering a smile and a kind word, Mary invests herself fully. She brings warmth, equity, and vision to everything she touches. She’s facilitating, she’s building bridges, inspiring leaders, and showing every student and family that Lafayette Elementary is their home.

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Kristine Dassero, Technology & Robotics Teacher, Cubberly K-8

For more than 15 years, Kristine Dassero has ignited a passion for technology and robotics at Cubberly, inspiring students to dream bigger, think sharper, and lead with confidence. A champion for STEM education, she is advancing the fields of robotics and engineering, paving the way for more young women to see themselves in these spaces.

Kristine’s classroom is a hub of creativity and discovery, where students are encouraged to problem-solve, innovate, and push the boundaries of what they believe is possible. She dedicates extra time to ensure every student has a rewarding, hands-on experience, whether it’s fine-tuning code, troubleshooting design challenges, or preparing for the intensity of Robobowl competitions. Her emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork, and resilience ensures that students grow as competitors while developing into respectful and collaborative leaders.

With humor, patience, and unwavering dedication, Kristine meets her students where they are and elevates them to new levels of achievement. She is exceptionally committed to mentoring female students, giving them the encouragement and skills to break barriers in engineering and technology.

Kristine Dassero is a teacher, a role model, an opportunity builder, and a leader whose impact will be felt for years to come. Cubberly and LBUSD are proud to celebrate her as a driving force for innovation, excellence, equity in robotics, and beyond.

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Betty Marshall, Special Education Teacher, Kettering Elementary

At Kettering Elementary, Betty Marshall shines as a true team player whose boundless energy and heart always center around students. As the 4–5 Moderate to Severe Special Education teacher, Betty has a gift for meeting every child exactly where they are and lifting them higher.

One powerful example occurred when a kindergartner was having a tough day and simply did not want to be in class. Rather than allowing frustration to take over, Betty opened her door and her heart. She said gently, “Come to me, come with me, help me with my students.” She gave him purpose and belonging. Instead of feeling left out, this student became a helper in her classroom, distributing materials, assisting students, and actively engaging in the lesson. Afterward, she personally walked him back to his kindergarten class, where he returned calmer, more confident, and ready to learn. That simple moment of inclusion turned what had begun as a tough day into a remarkably successful one. It was Betty’s patience and insight that changed his outlook.

Her compassion extends to colleagues as well. Whether in professional development sessions or daily interactions, Betty radiates positivity and vision. She pushes past negativity with a solutions-oriented approach, always asking, “How can we make this happen?” With her bright ideas and collaborative spirit, she inspires those around her to find new ways forward. Even on tough days, she shows up with readiness, resilience, and a heart that brings calm to others.

From her beginnings as an aide and long-term substitute to her current role, Betty has been a steady force of encouragement, creativity, and hope. Her colleagues describe her as a “huge player on our campus,” and it’s easy to see why. Nominated for the Vision 2035 Star recognition, Betty embodies what it means to support students and staff with unwavering dedication. She is, simply put, a cornerstone of the Kettering community.

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Tanya Roque, Lafayette Teacher

Tanya Roque’s teaching journey began at Stevenson, where she quickly left a lasting impression on students and staff. From the outset, her dedication was evident, ensuring that her colleagues and students had the support they needed. When one teacher transitioned classrooms, Tanya didn’t hesitate to come in after hours and on weekends, moving desks, boxes, and supplies until the job was done. Always smiling, always willing, her attitude was simple: “Sure, how do we make this happen?” Those moments left a mark on the Stephenson community, showing her commitment to teamwork and her drive to make every school she serves a little better.

Today at Lafayette, Tanya continues to shine as a versatile player and a true District rockstar. Whether it’s supporting families, stepping in for colleagues, or attending community events, she leads with heart and positivity. She is the kind of teacher who makes an entire campus stronger through her work in the classroom and the way she lifts others. As one colleague perfectly put it: “You know when you meet someone and you say, I like their vibe? That’s Tanya. Her vibe radiates positivity.” Today, and always, we thank Tanya for her service to LBUSD.