The primary purpose of Friends of Clifford is to foster an inclusive community for our students and families; create transparency in decision making and school events; raise funds and obtain donations to ensure academic excellence, facilitate student enrichment, and support our school staff and greater school community.
‘24-’25 Board Members
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Susana Benavidez (she/her), President
Born and raised in Boyle Heights, I am a first-gen Chicana. I’m a machine learning software engineer, a certified pilates instructor, and vintage runway collector. I’m a proud mom to Valentina (3rd grade), a pre-med sophomore at USC, and a freshman at SAIC majoring in animation and comics. As a former unhoused young single mom who at 32 was admitted to Stanford University to study Computer Science (AI) and creative writing, I understand the transformational power of education. I’m excited to apply my strategy, operations, and fundraising experience to build on and accelerate our success at Clifford.
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Ron & Monica Jarvina, Co-VPs
We’re proud parents of Mia (1st grade), Jordan (3rd grade), and Emily (a future kindergartner). We’re deeply dedicated to nurturing our children and strive to make a positive impact in their lives. Being part of Clifford allows us to connect with a close-knit community, benefit from small class sizes, and collaborate with fantastic parents. Monica holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and works as a registered nurse in neurosurgery intensive care. Ron has a Master of Science and a Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesiology and is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist at Los Angeles General Medical Center. Both of us are products of the LAUSD system, and we have a strong belief in the power of education. Ron was born and raised in Silverlake, a true Angeleno, while Monica was born in the Philippines and grew up in Los Feliz.
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Cindy Aguilar, Secretary
My son Jonathan is in 3rd grade at Clifford and my toddler, Mahely who is currently in her “terrible two’s” phase, will be attending UTK in 2026. I am in my second year as School Site Council (SSC) Secretary, helping make decisions on our school budget and academic goals. I am also proud to be the newly elected Secretary for our Friends of Clifford (FoC) parent organization. I enjoy collaborating with the school staff and teachers and supporting and volunteering for events like Hall-O-STEAM and Odyssey of the Mind. I love that Clifford is a small school and we get to know each other better because of it. I look forward to working with all parents to help promote a strong, supportive learning environment where our kids can thrive and build long-lasting friendships!
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Stacey Shin, Co-Treasurer
Kids are Hillary (3rd) and Harrison (K).
I love Clifford for the small but phenomenal community we share with our students, families, staff and teachers. Pandas have PRIDE!
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Jina Kim, Co-Treasurer
I’m very excited to join the board of Friends of Clifford as one of the co-treasurers. My son Miles Kim is currently in Kinder and we also have a one year old who will become a Panda when he’s older. We moved to LA from NYC a few years back and we're loving the sunshine and beaches of the west coast. Being a new family to the Clifford community, we noticed right away that it’s an incredibly special place. The teachers, admin, students, and families here are so kind and welcoming - we immediately felt right at home. Can’t wait to get to know everyone and please say hi if you see me around.
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Kency Galvez, Communications Chair
I’m a stay-at-home mom to four amazing kids: Havana, who’s in 3rd grade; Zoey, a 1st grader; Selena, in TK; and Jr., our 1-year-old. I’m really excited to be part of Friends of Clifford! I love how small and intimate the Clifford community is. It’s such a warm and welcoming space, and I can’t wait to get more involved and connect with new families!
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Claire Armstrong (she/her), Marketing Chair
I’m mother to Juniper M. in TK. My background is in technology, and I’m starting a School of Rock in the neighborhood. So far we love Clifford for how tightly knit the community is (even in such a large city), and the focus on STEM and shared educational values.
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Xochitl Padilla, Volunteer Coordinator
I have two children who attend Clifford: Lazaro in 5th grade and Nahui in 3rd. As a former LAUSD teacher, I never knew schools like Clifford existed. I call Clifford LAUSD’s “hidden gem.” There is an amazing sense of community not only in the classroom for the students but for parents as well. I love volunteering in the classroom and I’m happy to help keep the school afloat by supporting the wonderful and welcoming staff at Clifford!
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Jessica Montano Goldberg, Volunteer Coordinator
I’m a mom of two boys, Adrian (6) and Jackson (3). I work in the field of public health, supporting community-driven research. I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I love Clifford’s tight-knit community, along with our amazing teachers and staff.
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Carlos Aguilar, School Board Liason
My son Jonathan is currently in 3rd grade. I have represented LAUSD Region West and Clifford St Math and Tech Magnet during 2022-2024 period as an elected LAUSD Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) member. I love Clifford because I've always rooted for the underdog, and our school is "the little engine that could!"