Gabriel Sandoval to Lead White House Panel on Ensuring Equity in Education

04.27.2016

FULLERTON, CALIF. Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo is proud to support the efforts of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. The Commission will meet tomorrow, April 28, 2016, at California State University, Fullerton, at the Titan Student Union from 8:30 AM to 2:45 PM. The meeting is open to the public and will feature renowned speakers.

Gabriel Sandoval, a partner in AALRR’s statewide education law practice group, will lead a panel discussion at 9:10 AM entitled “Ensuring Equity in Education: A Conversation with the White House Initiatives and Reflection from the Commission.” Panelists will include Alejandra Ceja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics; Priscilla Huang, Senior Advisor for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and Ron Lessard, Chief of Staff for the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education.

Established by executive orders, a total of six White House Initiatives seek to promote, increase, and improve the educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, including Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and American Indian and Alaska Natives.

The April 28th meeting will also include remarks by Dr. Mildred Garcia, President of California State University Fullerton and Advisory Commission Member; informative sessions focused on early learning, K-12, and postsecondary education; and an in-depth discussion with Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Sylvia Mendez, who will speak on the importance of protecting and promoting civil rights in education for all students.

“I am honored to lead an important discussion at the President’s Advisory Commission meeting focused on ensuring equity for each and every student in our nation’s schools,” Gabriel Sandoval remarked. “This goal is not only critically important for our clients, but integral in our mission of providing exceptional counsel.”

Sandoval has extensive experience in improving educational opportunities and creating equity in the classroom. Prior to joining AALRR, he served in the Obama Administration in Washington, D.C., as Senior Counsel in the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education—the largest office of the federal government focused exclusively on ensuring that students are not discriminated against based on race, color, national, origin, sex, or disability. As part of the OCR’s management team, Sandoval worked with the Assistant Secretary and other senior staff in managing all aspects of complex, statewide civil rights investigations and compliance reviews. Sandoval also served as Senior Advisor and Director of Policy at the White House Initiative, where he advanced the President’s agenda to expand the educational opportunities for Latino students from cradle to career.

In his capacity as an AALRR education law partner, Sandoval represents and provides expert counsel to universities, community colleges, school districts, and charter schools on a range of employment and education matters, including those involving civil rights compliance and investigations.