Maureen Diekmann, Elementary School Services

My name is Maureen Diekmann, and I am one of two Directors of Elementary School Services in Local District E.  I have worked in the Los Angeles Unified School District for over 25 years, most recently as Principal at Van Gogh Elementary School in Granada Hills.  I have three school-aged children who help me stay focused on the needs of students.

There are a few beliefs upon which I base decisions relative to students, families, and schools.  They are:

I am excited about the abundance of talent among the school site administrators and teachers I have met.  Each school has a different gift for the children of Los Angeles and each of them is encouraging and challenging their youngsters.

Please share any concerns, suggestions, or ideas you may have.  I will be as responsive as possible in our joint quest for excellence in Local District E.

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Welcome to the Local District E web site.  I am Lucky Hemphill, one of two Elementary School Services Directors for our District.  I have served the students of LAUSD in various capacities for over thirty years.  I began my career in the San Fernando Valley teaching a variety of grades, K-6.  After seven years, I was transferred to East LA where I worked as a Teacher, Coordinator, Region Advisor and Assistant Principal.  In 1987 I became an elementary Principal.  I served eleven wonderful years at O’Melveny School in San Fernando where I instituted many programs including SBM, Healthy Start, and the O’Melveny Scholarships.   Most recently, I worked in the Certificated Personnel Teacher Placement Division where I helped staff our schools.

My professional beliefs are:

It is my hope that, whether you are a teacher, parent or administrator, each time you log on to this site you will learn something which will help you do a better job for the students we serve.

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Hello District E parents and staff.  I am Larry Tash, and I am the Director of Support Services for the middle schools in District E.  I hope that my comments will assist you in your job as a parent or an educator.  I look forward to meeting with each of you.

Anyone who has a middle school aged child or works with middle school aged children knows that they can be the most difficult age to deal with.  On the other hand, they can help make teaching and parenting exciting.

It all comes down to how the adults perceive children at this age.  If you understand a little about the developmental issues of this age, you can bet that their behaviors are not because of you, personally, but because of the changes that they are experiencing in their own life.  Adults need to take advantage of the energy and emotion that these children are feeling.  Adults also must try not to personalize the negative actions of these children.  Don't think that their behaviors are because of you, they aren't usually.

So, knowing this what do adults do with these children.  First, give these children parameters and rules to live by.  Make the rules fair and understandable.  Don't put so many restrictions on the children that they can't express their individuality.  They should have firm, fair, and friendly consequences and rewards for their actions.  Let them know when they do something well.  Also, be sure that they know when they have done something that is not acceptable.

It doesn't pay to fight, yell, scream, or be cynical with the children this age, it only creates a greater division between the child than adult than already exists.  Give them private time to understand their behaviors, and provide them high expectations for future choices that they will have to make.

This is not an easy age, but it is a lot more fun for everyone, if everyday does not turn into a family or a classroom fight.  Good luck.

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