Dr. Rocío Rivas is a proud:

• Parent of a current LAUSD student

• Graduate of LAUSD public schools

• Ph.D. in Education focused on urban schooling

• Public education advocate and policy leader

 

Born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Rivas immigrated to the U.S. at age two. A graduate of Reseda High School and the first in her family to earn a college degree, she holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her journey — from bilingual preschool teacher assistant to Vice President of the LAUSD School Board — is guided by one belief: every student deserves a high-quality, equitable education, no matter their ZIP code.

​​

 

 

 

 

As Vice President of the LAUSD Board of Education, Dr. Rivas represents Board District 2 with a grounded, student-centered perspective. She currently chairs:

• Committee of the Whole – Promoting transparency and collaboration

• Greening Schools & Climate Resilience Committee – Advancing sustainable, healthy campuses

• Charter Schools Committee – Defending neighborhood schools and ensuring accountability

 

She also serves as a Board Member of the California School Boards Association, shaping education policy for students and families statewide.

 

​

​

​

 

Dr. Rivas has devoted her career to public education — from conducting school evaluations across LAUSD to advancing education reform internationally. Before her election, she served as a policy deputy to Board Member Jackie Goldberg and as a parent representative at an LAUSD school. Her community involvement includes:

• Former President & Secretary of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, and Chair of its Family, Youth, and Education Committee

• Elected member of the Democratic Party Central Committee (AD 51)

• Honored as Democrat of the Year (2020)

 

​Outside of public service, Dr. Rivas enjoys spending time with her son, reading, cooking, and collecting Frida Kahlo art.