Woodworth-Monroe K-8 Academy Home

Images

STF 2026 — **Special thank you to Shoes That Fit for sponsoring our school and giving all students a brand-new pair of shoes!!**

La/Pac Sun — **Special thank you to the Los Angeles Rams and Pac Sun for their partnership and giving our students brand new apparel!**

Congratulations — **Cpngratulations to our 4th grade students who won 1st place in the Math Field Day competition!!**

Our Mission

Our Mission is to nurture, educate, and graduate students who are self-responsible and self-disciplined; who are critical and creative thinkers; who master the core academic disciplines; and who are advocates for equity and social justice for self and their community.

Meet Our Principal

Gabriela Romero

Dear Woodworth-Monroe Families,

My name is Ms. Romero, and I am proud to serve as your Principal here at Woodworth-Monroe TK-8th Academy.

Welcome to a new and exciting school year! It is truly an honor to work alongside such a dedicated team of educators, staff, students, and families. Together, we continue to build a school community that values academic excellence, positive relationships, and a strong sense of pride.

Meet Our Cabinet

James Morris, County Administrator

Dr. James Morris began his career in education forty-three years ago as a teacher and has served a principal, an assistant superintendent, Chief of Staff, Chief Operating Officer, and a variety of other administrative positions. After serving for thirty years in the Los Angeles Unified School District, he was selected as the Superintendent of the Fremont Unified School District where he served for 7 years. After retirement, he continued to serve in a variety of administrative roles. In January 2023, he accepted a position as County Administrator of the Inglewood Unified School District and is committed to helping the district exit receivership.

Bernadette C. Lucas, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services

Bernadette Lucas has been an educator for over 28 years. She came to education through Teach For America (1991). She has most recently served as the Director of Technology for Beverly Hills Unified School District. She served in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 23 years as a Teacher, Title I Coordinator, Advisor and Assistant Director for a teacher credentialing program, Assistant Principal, Principal, Mentor Principal, and Director of Technology. She also teaches in the School Leadership Program at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Brian Coffey, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources

Dr. Brian Coffey has been an educator in the Inglewood Unified School District since 1997. In 2003 he was awarded the Bill Ellis Teaching Award from the National Center for Learning Disabilities for excellence in practice and a commitment to students with learning and attention issues. In 2008, he earned a Doctor of Education Degree from USC’s Rossier School of Education, with a focus on Teacher Education. Dr. Coffey served as Principal of Kelso Elementary School from 2012-2019, and helped convert Beulah Payne Elementary to Payne P-8 STEAM Academy during his tenure as the school's Principal from 2019-2023.

Siddhant Bhatta, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

Mr. Bhatta has extensive experience in California school finance and has played a critical role in maintaining the district's fiscal stability through comprehensive budget development, multi-year financial projections, collective bargaining cost analyses, cash flow forecasting, and ongoing monitoring of restricted and unrestricted funding sources. He has led numerous fiscal initiatives, including budget certification, audit coordination, financial recovery efforts, implementation of new financial management systems, and the development of long-range fiscal sustainability plans.

Meet Our Board of Education

Carliss McGhee, Ph.D. Board President

Dr. McGhee was elected in April 2013 to serve Seat 2. She won a new term in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017. She has spent her adult life working with parents and children, beginning her career as a Head Start preschool teacher. An author of four children’s books, Dr. McGhee has served as a multi-cultural literacy coach and as a behavior specialist, advising and educating parents with special needs children. She has served as a motivational speaker for parents, teachers, and students and remains active in several school systems as a community organizer and educator. She has developed innovative programs for parents focused on reading and travel; established mock court programs as a deterrent to gang violence; and started English and Spanish as a Second Language classes in the community. Dr. McGhee spent ten years as a director of the United Negro College Fund, which provides scholarships for students to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She is the married mother of two adult sons and the founder of the Khocolate Keepsakes Children’s Literacy Museum. Dr. McGhee holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, a master’s degree in psychology, and a doctorate degree in pre-perinatal psychology.

Brandon G. Myers, Board Vice President

Mr. Brandon George Myers was elected in November 2020 to serve Seat 3. A native of Connecticut, Mr. Myers was born in the city of Hartford where he spent his childhood. Mr. Myers attended Norfolk State University, a historically black university, graduating with a B.A. in English/Theatre Performance.

As a longtime Inglewood resident, he has more than 8 years of education experience in addition to over 14 years of experience working with children and families. Shortly after he moved to Los Angeles, he began working at a nonprofit, Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, as a Child and Family Specialist where he remained for 5 years serving as an advocate for foster children within various communities. As a result of his love for the people and the betterment of the city in which they reside, Mr. Myers became a Mayoral candidate for the city of Inglewood in November 2018. In early 2020, Mr. Myers founded and served as President of the Inglewood South Bay Democratic Club. Through the years, Mr. Myers has been determined to eradicate economic disparities and inequalities that plague our communities. Mr. Myers was recently married in September of 2019.

Margaret Evans, Board Member

Margaret Evans was re-elected in November 2024 to serve Seat 4. A longtime Inglewood resident, she has more than 30 years of education experience, including 13 years as an administrator, and has worked as a senior advisor and teacher. Mrs. Evans received a four-year scholarship to Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., graduating with a B.S. Degree in Business Education. Shortly afterward, she moved to Los Angeles and began working at CBS Radio scheduling commercials. After a year, she was promoted to personnel assistant at CBS TV where she remained for two years coordinating benefits for all employees. She answered the call to education in January 1974 when an opening for a long-term substitute became available at a friend’s school within LAUSD.

Joyce L. Randall, M.A., Board Member

Joyce L Randall was elected in November 2022 to serve the Inglewood Unified School District on Seat 1. As a lifelong Inglewood resident she is looking forward to serving with a deep sense of humility. With over 31 years of experience in the field of education she has served as a teacher, mentor teacher, and a STEAM Magnet School Coordinator. She has served as Inglewood Council of PTAs’ President, President of La Tijera School PTA, and Inglewood Teachers’ Association's Grievance Chair. She has served multiple years and continues to serve as a National Education Association Delegate. She served as Director of Education at a megachurch, and as a Trustee on the same Church’s School Board of Education.

Ernesto Castillo, J.D., Board Member

Mr. Castillo is a proud son of Inglewood, a product of Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD), and a lifelong advocate for equity, opportunity, and progress. Born and raised in Inglewood, he made history as the youngest person and first Latino elected to the Inglewood School Board. A graduate of IUSD himself, he understands firsthand the power of a strong public education system and has dedicated his career to ensuring that every student in Inglewood receives the same opportunities to thrive. His commitment to public service has taken him from Washington, D.C., where he worked for Congressman Tony Cárdenas on federal policies to uplift underserved communities, to the California State Senate, where he worked for Majority Leader Lena A. Gonzalez and was instrumental in coordinating large-scale food distribution efforts and vaccine clinics in the hardest-hit areas of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Student Spotlight

Show All News

Meet Our Principal
Meet Our Cabinet
Meet Our Board of Education
Student Spotlight

Gabriela Romero

James Morris, County Administrator

Bernadette C. Lucas, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services

Brian Coffey, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources

Siddhant Bhatta, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

Carliss McGhee, Ph.D. Board President

Brandon G. Myers, Board Vice President

Margaret Evans, Board Member

Joyce L. Randall, M.A., Board Member

Ernesto Castillo, J.D., Board Member

Attendance Tracker

96%
Overall Attendance

93%

Last 5 School Days

93%
2024 - 2025 School Year

News & Announcements

Senate Bill 939: Educational Equity-Neurodivergent Pupils

On September 28, 2024, Senate Bill 939 was signed into law and amended California Education Code to ensure greater awareness, visibility, and support for students who are identified as neurodivergent or perceived as neurodivergent.
California Education Code Section 234.5 expands statewide resource lists to include support for students experiencing discrimination, harassment, ntimidation, or bullying based on actual or perceived neurodiversity. The law requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to post, annually update, and notify local educational agencies (LEAs) of the availability of these resources.

This includes resources developed in partnership with the University of California and California State University Collaborative for Neurodiversity and Learning.
The CDE Bullying Prevention Training and Resources web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/bullyres.asp contains a wealth of bullying prevention training and resources. This curated collection supports our LEAs and educators in responding to and assisting students, families, and communities impacted by bullying and discrimination—including incidents related to actual or perceived neurodiversity. These resources may be shared directly with students, families, and staff or used by LEAs to inform and strengthen local support efforts.

In alignment with these requirements, LEAs must post the Standing Together resource, which is available at https://ca-diverse-learning.org/standing-together/, in an easily accessible location on their website.

The recommended title for this resource is: “Bullying Prevention Resources for Students Who Identify or Are Perceived as Neurodivergent.”

Additional information regarding bullying prevention and related resources will be provided through a webinar hosted by the Office of School-Based Health and Safety in fall 2026. An invitation with further details will be distributed in advance.

Classified School Employee Appreciation Week, May 17–23, 2026

As we celebrate Classified School Employee Appreciation Week, May 17–23, we proudly recognize the outstanding classified employees who help make our schools welcoming, safe, and successful places for learning.

Every day, our classified staff members play an essential role in supporting the success of our district. Whether assisting students in classrooms, maintaining our campuses, preparing meals, supporting technology, transporting
students safely, or welcoming families into our schools, their dedication and hard work help create positive learning environments where students can thrive.