LA's BEST takes responsibility for training and supporting a staff which includes many of the most dedicated and effective after school employees in the United States. LA's BEST Corporate Management staff is located in the Office of the Mayor and work hand-in-hand with LA's BEST Operations Management staff, located within LAUSD. Field staff include site coordinators (1 per site), on-site staff (1 adult for every 20 children), and traveling program supervisors and activities consultants (assigned to clusters of 5 to 6 program sites).

Throughout its history, LA's BEST has had a proven track record of attracting staff from the neighborhoods in which its program sites are located. This "close to home" approach to recruiting brings to the program members of the community who care very much about the futures of our children and who are both geographically and culturally rooted to the community where they work. Consequently, LA's BEST program staff enjoys among the lowest turnover rates in after school programs nationwide. Many staff members have been with LA's BEST since the program's inception in 1988.

LA's BEST places a strong emphasis on staff development and training. A full-time Director of Staff Development and Director of Education work to enhance training and to focus on youth development and academic support. Our system for training and staff development is based on the premise that hired staff already know a great deal about how to work effectively with kids, especially kids from their own community. Approximately two-thirds of our staff members currently attend local colleges, many majoring in child development or education, and all of our staff members have consistently shown their dedication, creativity and talent in working with children. All training is supported by activities consultants and traveling program supervisors

Staff Spotlight

The Al Minturn Humanitarian Award was established at LA’s BEST to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the mission and vision of LA’s BEST. This award was established in honor of the first LA’s BEST program director, Mr. Al Minturn. The award is designed to recognize a Site Coordinator’s outstanding involvement and dedication as well as to recognize how the individual has instilled in students the value of service and making a difference in our communities.

This year, the award was given to Rosalinda Rosas, Site Coordinator at Ann St. Elementary. “Rosie” as she known by the teachers, parents, and children has lived, volunteered and worked in the Ann St. community since 1997. Her experience began eleven years ago as a parent volunteer for the LA’s BEST program and her efforts and dedication to the children earned her a position as a program worker shortly thereafter. As LA’s BEST grew, so did Rosie’s role at Ann St; she became the new site coordinator while continuing her involvement, dedication and enrichment of the lives of the Ann St. community.

Her collaboration with school day based personnel is just one way in which she bridges the gap between before and after-school activities. This communication, along with the community has allowed the LA’s BEST program enrolled over 80 percent of the students enrolled at Ann St. Elementary. In addition, Rosie has often recruited and encouraged community participants to volunteer, become involved in school/after-school events and even to become a part of the LA’s BEST family. Congratulations and thank you Rosie for all of your hard work and efforts!