Photo by Ted Johnson - © 2007
Scott M. Schmerelson
Secondary Department Director
Secondary Department Director
Scott M. Schmerelson has been a school site teacher, counselor and administrator for the past 35 years. He began his teaching career as a Spanish teacher with the School District of Philadelphia for 5 years and came to LAUSD to continue as a Spanish teacher, ESL teacher, school counselor, APSCS, AP and Principal. Mr. Schmerelson began his LAUSD career with a 12 year stay at Virgil MS as a teacher, school counselor and APSCS. He later became an AP at Griffith MS for 5 years and then became Principal at Lawrence MS for 5 years and is currently Principal at Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. MS. for the last 8 years. He has been treasurer of MSAPO and currently is treasurer of MSPO and the Cuban-American Teachers’ Association.
Mr. Schmerelson considers that his most effective endeavor was accepting the offer to transfer from Lawrence MS to Mount Vernon MS in order to try to prevent the school from a state take-over due to a history of poor test scores, low morale and a decaying physical plant. The school was successful in avoiding a state take-over. The test scores, the physical plant and teacher-student-parent morale continue to significantly improve.
Mr. Schmerelson was recently elected as Secondary Director. His goal is to assure all members that their rights will be protected. He believes that the strength of AALA is in all members participating in organization meetings. When members stop attending scheduled organizational meetings, it sends a message of apathy to those who would like to see a reduction or even elimination of these important meetings. Our organizational meetings enable fellow administrators from across the district to meet and share best practices. Some Local Districts do not thoroughly share operational issues at Principals’ meetings which are vital to the smooth functioning of our schools. Organizational meetings, on the other hand, present a balance of instructional and operational issues.