As local citizens, our governing board members have a responsibility to the students and the community at-large for providing a high quality choice in education for all youth who are unable to participate in the traditional school model.
Each member of our independently governed, non-profit charter school governing board contributes a depth of experience in areas such as education, business, finance, and community development. Each member is especially passionate about improving the lives of young people and helping establish them as confident, educated, skillful, and civic-minded citizens of their community.
Carol Stanford
Board President
Term expires June 30, 2026
Claudette Roberts Beck
Board Secretary
Term expires June 30, 2026
Victoria Hancock
Board Member
Term expires June 30, 2026
John Dortch
Board Member
Term expires June 30, 2026
James Lott
Board Member
Term expires June 30, 2026
Carol Stanford
Ms. Carol Stanford previously served as a trustee for the Palmdale School District and served as an instructional coach and AP/IB English teacher at Antelope Valley High School for more than 30 years. She was awarded the 2001 Teacher of the Year by L.A. County, received the Highland High School Hall of Fame, the Antelope Valley High School Distinguished Service Award, nominated for the Athena Award, and is co-founder of the Ana Verde Hills Town Council in Palmdale California.
Claudette Roberts Beck
Ms. Claudette Roberts Beck is a board president for the Antelope Valley Resource Conservation District and a former board member of the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board. As the water conservation manager at the Palmdale Water District for 21 years, she developed and executed conservation programs for the public and regional school districts. A strong believer in educating the public about water conservation, Beck serves on the Conservation Garden Committee that encourages the use of sustainable plants and other forms of water conservation. Beck earned her bachelor’s in business management from the University of Phoenix.
Victoria Hancock
For over 20 years, Ms. Victoria Hancock oversaw the City of Palmdale’s City Clerk Department in which she was responsible for overseeing all city elections for mayor, city council and measures in addition to being the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and FPPC contact for all candidates. Hancock has served as a substitute teacher at Palmdale School District, and held board CEO for MACRO Homes, a group home for girls in L.A. County. Her passion over the past several years has been to serve on non-profit education boards whose mission is to serve the neediest of youth and to provide opportunities to this underserved population.
John Dortch
For 36 years, Mr. John Dortch served as a manager for the L.A. County Assessor’s Office and was responsible for the assessment operations throughout the county. Since retirement in 2012, Dortch has been actively serving his community through Habitat for Humanity, the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, Rotary and Elks. He serves as a L.A. County appointee to the City of Santa Clarita Redevelopment Oversight Board, and was a previous appointee to the Santa Clarita Open Space Oversight Committee. Dortch holds a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Northridge and is a U.S. Army veteran. Dortch strongly believes that education is a crucial stepping-stone to a successful and fulfilling life.
James Lott
While at Keppel Union School District in Littlerock, Calif., Mr. James Lott held many positions including: science teacher, head teacher, curriculum coordinator, principal and assistant school superintendent. He taught at Antelope Valley College and California State University, Northridge. In 2004, he was inducted into the New Mexico Highlands University Hall of Honor for football and his educational accomplishments. In his community, Lott is co-founder of the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council, and the Antelope Valley Conservation Education Council, and serves on numerous boards in education and law enforcement. He received his bachelor’s in history and physical education from New Mexico Highlands University and his master’s in educational psychology from Azusa Pacific University.