Hosted by Larry Mantle, Education-Focused Panel Will Feature Nationally-Recognized Experts, Local Education Leaders

The Pasadena Educational Foundation is holding a special education-focused panel discussion featuring nationally-recognized experts and local education leaders called ED TALK with well-known radio host Larry Mantle on Wednesday, November 9 from 6;00 to 7 p.m. at Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium.

The conversation between panelists Dr. Pedro Noguera, Dr. Hayin Kimner, Dr. Brian McDonald, Reyna Uka, Scott Harden, and Mya Hernandez will be moderated by Mantle, host of the longest-running daily talk show in Southern California.

The panel of five includes education experts and local public school representatives who will offer voice from a national as well as Pasadena perspective. The panelists include:

Dr. Pedro Noguera is one of the nation’s leading scholars on issues related to race, inequality and education. Prior to coming to USC to serve as the Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean of the Rossier School of Education, he was a Distinguished Professor of Education and holder of endowed chairs at UCLA, NYU, Harvard University, and the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of 15 books. His most recent book, A Search for Common Ground: Conversations About the Tough Questions and Complex Issues Confronting K-12 Education in the United States Today with Rick Hess, was the winner of the American Association of Publishers Prose Award in 2021.

Dr. Hayin Kimner led the development of district and citywide community school partnership strategies in San Francisco Unified and Emery Unified School Districts. She currently serves as the Managing Director for the CA Community Schools Learning Exchange and as a nonresident Fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution in support of the Community Schools Forward national task force.

Dr. Brian McDonald is the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent. Dr. McDonald previously served as the district’s Chief Academic Officer. A fluent Spanish speaker, Dr. McDonald has a Master’s in Education Administration from Texas Southern University, a certification in principalship from Harvard Graduate School, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University.

Reyna Uka is a Spanish Dual Language Arts teacher at Octavia Butler Magnet. Having taught in Pasadena Unified for the last four years, she is in her 12th year as an educator. Previously Ms.Uka taught in Los Angeles in both the middle and high school settings. She recently earned her M.A. in Education.

Scott Harden is the father of two daughters who have attended Pasadena public schools. Mr. Harden is currently the President of the PTA Council of PUSD and co-lead of the PUSD Strategic Planning Culture and Climate Committee. He is a Change Design Strategist with IIIMPACT, Inc.

Mya Hernandez is a senior in the Graphics and Communications Academy at Pasadena High School (PHS). They are the first chair viola in the PHS orchestra and a member of the Pasadena Unified School District’s Student Think Tank. Mya deeply loves music, making art, and learning. Outside of school, they like to play Dungeons and Dragons with friends and go thrifting. They love to spend time with their family and interact with nature. Mya hopes to major in STEM at a college in California.

Tickets are $20 for Individual Admission and $10 for Student Discount Admission and are available online now at: pased.org/edtalk.

This special event is being held to culminate the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Pasadena Educational Foundation.