Amaris Rivas is the district administrator at Lawndale Elementary School District.
Amaris Rivas serves as a District Administrator at Lawndale Elementary School District, supporting the early implementation of the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) and advancing the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P). She actively seeks partnerships and funding to expand ELO-P offerings and designs systems to ensure high-quality, equity-centered enrichment experiences. Amaris works closely with school sites to support program implementation, build sustainability, and align extended learning initiatives with the district’s mission of inclusivity and student empowerment. Her leadership focuses on creating responsive, community-driven programs that foster academic growth, engagement, and expanded opportunities for all students.
Amaris chose to enroll in LMU’s Ed.D. program because it aligned with her professional goals and personal commitment to equity. She was drawn to the program’s focus on developing culturally responsive leaders who advocate for systemic change and inclusive practices. LMU’s emphasis on social justice leadership resonated with Amaris’s passion for creating transformational change in schools and communities. Through her experience in the Ed.D. program, Amaris strengthened her ability to lead with heart, courage, and a critical lens, all essential qualities for making a lasting impact in today’s diverse educational landscape.
In her dissertation, Empowering Education: Unveiling the Strategies of Latina Elementary Principals in Cultivating Culturally Responsive Learning Environments, Amaris blends her personal narrative with the stories of five Latina principals. Using pláticas, a culturally rooted methodology, she explored how early family and educational experiences shaped leadership practices centered on equity, inclusion, and cultural pride. Grounded in Community Cultural Wealth, Latino Leadership Principles, and Chicana/Latina Feminist Epistemology, her study revealed how Latina principals transform personal resilience into leadership strategies that empower marginalized communities. Her work calls for systemic action to recruit, support, and elevate Latina leaders in education.
Participation in the Ed.D. program at LMU has profoundly shaped Amaris’s personal and professional journey in education. It strengthened her commitment to social justice leadership and deepened her ability to dismantle inequitable systems. Personally, it reaffirmed her identity as a culturally responsive leader and empowered her to view her lived experiences as assets. Professionally, the program equipped Amaris with the tools, frameworks, and research-based practices necessary to lead transformative change. Through this experience, she enhanced her ability to advocate for equity, foster inclusive environments, and inspire others to lead with heart, purpose, and courageous action.