About Citizen Learning Academy

Citizen Learning Academy (CLA) is a Nonpublic School, certified by the California Department of Education.

The primary aim of the school is to serve the growing special education needs of those youths whose adjustment to the traditional public school setting has not been successful. Focus is placed not only on academics, but also on social training, while addressing the individual needs that are outlined in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), CLA is equipped to service students who need various special education criteria, including Emotional Disturbance (ED), Autism (AUT), Mental Retardation (MR), and Specific Learning Disability (SLD).

The school operates a safe, clean environment with newly remodeled classrooms, restrooms and counseling facility. Students are served breakfast and lunch indoors or in a spacious outside eating area.

Our Nonpublic school allows the advantage of a small classroom setting, roundtrip transportation to and from the school site and individual or group counseling. Classroom size is limited to a maximum of 12 students. A fully credentialed special education teacher, who is on-site at all times, along with a trained assistant facilitates each class, DIS Counseling and Speech Pathologist are delivered by on-site Licensed Credentialed personnel.

Copyright © 2005 Citizen Learning Academy All rights reserved.

About CLA’s Teachers

Mr. and Mrs. Ingram selects highly qualified teachers and trained staff from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

Each individual share similar work ethics and genuinely care for children. Her staff consists of women who are actively involved in their communities.

Learn more about these fascinating women, as well as the impressive portfolios of CLA’s Directors.

About CLA’s Directors

Jesse Ingram, Associate Director

Mr. Ingram is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and lives in Los Angeles with his lovely wife Crystal.He has two sons and one daughter, two daughter-in-laws, and a granddaughter.

A graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA,Mr. Ingram earned his B.A. in Business Administration/Economics in 1969, and his MBA in Finance in 1977, from CSU, Dominguez Hills, CA. He holds a Lifetime Teaching Credential, as well as

studied Business Law.

Before becoming the Associate Director of Citizen Learning Academy, he was an Owner/Operator of several McDonald’s Corporations for 40 years. In addition, he was a Marketing and Planning Manager for Xerox Corporation, as well as a Cost Control Manager for Northrop Corporation. He has been a Salesperson for Sears, a Buyer for Rich’s Department Store, and a representative of the Atlanta Transit System.

Mr. Ingram is the Chairman of Ministry at Mount Tabor Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Crystal Ingram, DirectorMrs. Ingram is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband. She has two sons, Demetrius and Darius; a daughter, Deanna; two daughter-in-laws, Michelle & Helen; and a granddaughter, Micah. Mrs. Ingram’s children are college graduates of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges.

In addition to being the Director of Citizen Learning Academy, Mrs. Ingram has worked in the Los Angeles Unified School District as a teacher, a Mathematician, an Engineer for Northrop, an Editor, and Owner/Operator.

Mrs. Ingram is a Deaconess of Mount Tabor Baptist Church, a volunteer of the Los Angelenoes for City Hall. Mrs. Ingram is also a member of

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

She loves to participate in the Olympics as a greeter, and has traveled all over the world. Gardening, collecting antiques from traveling shows, and helping children in need are her

passions.

“One of my most important jobs was being a mother”.

Jessye Carter Robinson

Mrs. Robinson is widowed to the late Leonard Robinson. She has a daughter, Michelle; a son-in-law, Michael Reynolds ; and five grandsons.

Mrs. Robinson grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1972.

Moving to Los Angeles and graduating from CSU, Dominguez Hills, Mrs. Robinson earned Handicapped Specialist License, as well as her Certificate in Autism. She has over 30+ years as a teacher in both Milwaukee and Los Angeles schools. Working with the Los Angeles Unified School District as a teacher for 75th Street School, she held several professional positions, including K-12 Whole Classroom Instruction, Special Day Class as Resource Specialist, Math Coach, and served in the Reading and Tutoring Program, and numerous committees.

Receiving such honors as Teacher of the Year, nominated eight times as Whose Who Among Educators, she is among the “Elite of Educators”.

A member of the Matrons Mission Society, she holds several positions on the Local, District, and State level. As a devoted Sunday School teacher she reaches youth with her no nonsense approach and unrelenting guidance.

In addition, she is a member of both Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Eta Phi Beta, Sorority, Inc. proactively serving the needs of her committee on a grassroots level as well as nationwide.

Mrs. Robinson enjoys reading novels, playing games, studying the Bible, and traveling.

As an Educator Mrs. Robinson recommends students to Do their Best to become Successful.

Mrs. Ann Taylor is the proud wife of Ira Taylor. She has one son, Gregory Montgomery and one foster daughter, JoAnn Nelson three grandchildren, Alexa, Kayla, and Greyson Montgomery. Mrs. Taylor is a native of Gadsden, Alabama where she graduated from Carver High School . She received her B.S. Degree in Education from Alabama A & M University, Huntsville, Alabama. Mrs. Taylor began her teaching career at South Gadsden Elementary, Gadsden, Alabama , where she taught for three years and moved to Inkster, Michigan and continued her passion for teaching. While in Michigan, she received her Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.

Mrs. Taylor moved to Los Angeles and began teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She received her certification in Special Education from California Lutheran College. She earned her Administrative certification from Pepperdine University. Mrs. Taylor also holds a degree in Systematic Evangelism from Bethany Bible College. A member of Rock of Faith Baptist Church, she teaches Sunday School, Mission Bible Class and sings in the Senior Choir.

She taught in LAUSD for 30 years as a Whole Classroom Teacher, Resource Specialist, Title I Coordinator and Temporary Assistant Principal, as well as a Music Teacher. After retirement, she taught at San Pedro Academy, a Nonpublic School for nine years.

Mrs. Taylor is a member of both Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and Tau Gamma Delta Sorority Inc..

Mrs. Taylor enjoys bowling and crocheting.

“Students should Do Their Best at all times”.

Ann Taylor

Mattie Davis, ABA

Mrs. Davis is a retired Behavioral Interventionist for the Long Beach Unified School District. She worked for LBUSD for over 30 years, and is happily married to Norwood Davis, a retired Sheriff’s Deputy.

Mrs. Davis has been working with the students of CLA for eight years and does a remarkable job of managing some of the most challenging of behaviors. She has two daughters, Danielle and Nicole, both are graduates of Howard University, and one works at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. Her son-in-laws are Byron and Vernon. She also has nine grandchildren, and look forward to their visits from Detroit, Michigan to California every Summer and Christmas.

Mrs. Davis is a Singer and Choir Director and facilitates the End of School Year Program, lending her expertise in CLAs Music Department.

World Traveler Project Manager Conflict Resolution

“It is not where we live that counts, it is how we live that counts”.

Diane Garcia, One-on-One

Ms. Garcia is the proud mother of two daughters, Krystal and Terry, and a son, Johnny. They are all Honor students.

Mrs. Garcia majored in Business Administration and Child Development at Southwest College and is Certified as a Preschool Teacher/Director. In addition, she is a Certified Dental Assistant.

She has been serving the students of Citizen Learning Academy since the beginning of the school’s grand opening. After leaving for a short time to live in Bakersfield, CA. and returning, she was surprised to see how much the young elementary students had grown into respectable teenagers. Many of them still remembered her.

Ms. Garcia is a One-on-One Aide to CLAs students with moderate behavioral difficulties and does an excellent job in calming and managing their behaviors.

Ms. Garcia loves reading, traveling, interior decorating, art, cooking and being a positive role model to children and young adults.

About the Author & Poet

Ambi B. Smith

A native Californian, Ambi is the eldest of five siblings, one sister and three brothers. All of whom reside in Southern California. She currently has five nephews and three nieces. A graduate of Taft High School in Woodland Hills, CA. She earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies at CSU, Fresno, and is starting student teaching at National University in Los Angeles, earning a Master of Arts in Education with a Single Subject in English and Certificates in Autism and Educational Technology.

She has over 20 years of experience in Office Administration and Management, two years as a Teacher’s Aide and Computer Resource Assistant with Fresno Unified School District, and seven years with Citizen Learning Academy as an Administrative Assistant, Teacher’s Aide, Computer Science Teacher and Substitute English and History Teacher.

In addition to serving students of Citizen Learning Academy as a Computer Science Teacher, she has worked on several Project Management renovations, including the Administrative Office and Hanger Project at West Los Angeles Community College, American Airlines @ Terminal 4/LAX Renovation Project, and the UCLA Replacement Hospital Project , now known as Ronald Reagan and Mattel Children’s Hospital. She has also worked as both a Program Administrator and Student Accounts Coordinator for Pepperdine University, in the School of Education and Psychology.

Ambi serves in the Media Ministry as a camera operator for West Angeles Cathedral, Bishop Blake, Pastor. She also volunteers for the Special Olympics World Games.

Ambi is the author of “My Five Nephews and Their Tech Toys”. She enjoys teaching, traveling, reading, writing, photography, videotaping, and Zumba.

School Daze

Children laughingChildren crying

School brings diverse kids.Children sharingChildren caring

School brings teachers together for a common cause.

Children fussingChildren hitting

Teachers teach kids to pause and think.Children learningChildren thinking

About how they can make a Difference in the World.

About the Community of CLA

Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church, Ticey Brown, Pastor

Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Kappa Chapter

Community Service

Briar Crest Nursing Facility in Bell Gardens, CA

Century Villa Inc., Inglewood, CA

Los Angeles County Fair, Discovery Kids

CLA Photo Album

Best Wishes To Our 2014 Graduates!

Mrs. Frazier, ASL Teacher

Justin Landrum

Anthony Jones Jr.

Making Friends

L.A. County Fair (2013)

Community Service; Computer & Drum Lessons; City Hall

End of School Year Program 2012-2013; American Sign Language

UniverSoul Circus; LA County Fair; Pepperdine University; Study & Fun Time

Asian American Heritage Month @ City Hall and Genaro & Lamar caught on camera in City Hall Chambers

CLA Shining Stars

American Indian Heritage Month @ City Hall & Thanksgiving Food Drive (2014)

L.A. County Fair 2012-2013

2012-2013 End of School Year Program

African American Heritage Month @ City Hall and The Museum of African American Art

Louis Gossett Jr.

The Gallery of Cordella & Larry DavisCSU, Dominguez Hills

The Gallery of Cordella & Larry DavisCSU, Dominguez Hills

Mrs. Quarles, The Story Teller

Eta Phi Beta Career Day (2014)

Eta Phi Beta Inc., Kappa Chapter CLA End of School Year Program 2012-2013

References

1. Citizen Learning Academy (CLA) Parent & Student Handbook, “Citizen Learning Academy “Who Are We”, Copyright (2005)

2. Nelson Mandela “Education” Quote

3. Maya Angelou “Courage” Quote

Ambi Beatrice Smith, Author

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