Board Members

Term Expires: 3/2024
Trustees Area: D

A long-time Compton resident, CUSD Board Member Charles Davis previously sat on the Compton Community College District’s (CCCD) Board of Trustees and served as Compton’s city clerk for over 30 years. He is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor's degree in Business. Board Member Davis has also owned several businesses in the city, served as a board member for Compton's Salvation Army and YMCA, and served as a California City Clerk's Association officer.   The newly-elected board member said he looks forward to serving the best interests of Compton Unified’s students, and helping the District make greater gains in academic achievement.

Term Expires: 6/2026
Trustee Area: B

Dr. Ayanna E. Davis was elected to the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees on June 5, 2022.  Dr. Davis currently serves as Board Clerk.

Dr. Ayanna E. Davis is an advocate for education, leadership, and political and social justice. She is a lifelong resident of the City of Compton. Ayanna provided services for thousands of children and families throughout her 27 years in the field of education. She is a mother of one son, Joshua, a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Southern California.

As a lifelong Democrat, she has a long history of assisting campaigns for candidates seeking local, state-wide and national office, organizing fundraisers, and facilitating candidate interviews for club endorsements. Davis is currently an appointed delegate by Assemblyman Mike Gipson for the 64^th Assembly District. While serving as a delegate she actively participates with the party’s African American Caucus and the Children’s Caucus. Davis is a member and past Vice President and Political Action and Education Chairperson for the New Frontier Democratic Club, the oldest and largest African American Democratic club in California. Dr. Davis holds the office as a Vice President and Political Action Council member for the Association of Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) of Los Angeles Unified School District.

Dr. Davis works passionately to advocate for equity and inclusion for young children (ages birth to 8 years old) living in disadvantaged conditions by serving as Vice President and President-elect of the Southern California Chapter of the California Association of Early Young Children. In addition, she represents as a delegate for Best Start Region 2 which serves the Compton, Watts, Willowbrook, and West Athens communities. In this capacity, she will focus on building capacity and advancing policy and change specific to the needs of those communities.

Dr. Davis attended the University of Southern California and earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration from California State University at Dominguez Hills and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration with a focus on Leadership and Policy Studies from California State University at Northridge. Lastly, a doctorate of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.

Term Expires: 6/2026
Trustee Area: A

Coming Soon!

Term Expires: 6/2026
Trustees Area: E

Alma Taylor-Pleasant is a native of Compton, California also known as the "Hub City". Growing up, she received her formal education attending schools in the Compton Unified School District. She graduated from Los Angeles David Starr Jordan High School in 1978. Subsequently, she furthered her college education at Long Beach Business College in 1981, receiving a certificate in Business Administration. She's the mother of two adult daughters, and grandmother of a grandson who she cherishes immensely.

Pleasant has been notably recognized for her genuine hospitality serving the City of Compton and those in need. Mrs. Pleasant embarked on the journey of her career with the City of Compton of August 1981, gaining a position as an office assistant and transportation dispatcher. Over the years, she has advanced in her position as a recreation activity specialist at Douglas F. Dollarhide Community Center, dedicating 36 years of public service. She's initiated several special programs such as the first Father's Day Program & Thanksgiving Luncheon at Kelly Park. Also, she started her own cooking class called, Cooking with Alma at Kelly Park where she enabled adolescents to learn the fundamentals of cooking, baking, and basic math skills. Working diligently with seniors, and the youth inside and outside her community, she hopes to achieve the prospect of becoming a reputable asset for the Compton Unified School District. She's a faithful community servant and a long time member of Love Peace and Happiness Christian Fellowship Center, under the leadership of Bishop Leon Martin.

As Mrs. Pleasant desires to carry on her public service career as the school board member, her ultimate goal is to fuel academic advancement and achievement for students. Mrs. Pleasant is a product of diligence, hospitality, and has demonstrated social resiliency. Mrs. Pleasant will continue to be admired among existing city elected officials, and other employees who work in various departments for the City of Compton in which she has humbly served.

Term Expires: 6/2026
Trustees Area: G
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Satra D. Zurita, Member,  is serving her fourth term on the Board where she was overwhelmingly re-elected on November 8, 2017.  Upon her re-election in 2017, Zurita stated, “We have received national recognition for the Compton Turnaround, now it is time to focus on ensuring that our students are achieving at the rates they should. I am especially interested in developing efforts to raise the achievement of African American students, a group that has been persistently underperforming and in need of our focused attention. We are seeing marked improvements among our English Language Learners year over year, so now we must work to ensure that our English speaking students are also growing in achievement.  I would like to see our English-speaking students taught Spanish with the same fervor we teach Spanish-speaking students English.  I also believe that good life skills are important for our students to learn, and that we need to teach our students etiquette, so they are prepared to successfully navigate different social contexts with grace and ease as well as be great ambassadors for the Compton Unified School District. Finally, one other important element to student success is for parents to be effective and knowledgeable so they can assist and direct their students. With that said, I believe a robust Parent Education Academy effort is in order.

“I am going to work with the entire Board to continue to do everything possible to make the Compton Unified School District the best it can be, including providing a quality education, which every child deserves to receive and can receive regardless of their zip code. Among our greatest challenges to tackle include ensuring that parents are engaged and able to follow their children’s academic progress electronically, continuing to increase the graduation rate, which is currently over 86%, and increasing the number of students entering and eventually completing college.”

Zurita is a native of Compton who was educated in Compton schools. SHE IS A PRODUCT OF THE COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, and a Compton High School Alumni.  She has served four terms in the position of Board President, two terms as Clerk, one term as Legislative Representative and is currently serving her fourth term as Vice President of the Board.

She represents students and their respective families in neighborhoods stretching from Compton to North Carson, including communities of East Rancho Dominguez, Enterprise, Mona Park, Rosewood, Stevenson Village, West Rancho Dominguez and Willowbrook.

As a 3rd generation resident of Compton, Zurita hails from a family that is distinguished by their service to the Compton community. She is the oldest daughter of retired public administrator Clarence Zurita and retired two term City Councilwoman Delores Zurita. She has one sister, Compton City Councilwoman Janna Zurita (the other half of “Compton’s Sister Act”), and is the proud mother of a daughter, Armani Delores, and an aunt to one niece, Chanel Grace.

She represents students and their respective families in neighborhoods stretching from Compton to North Carson, including communities of East Rancho Dominguez, Enterprise, Mona Park, Rosewood, Stevenson Village, West Rancho Dominguez and Willowbrook.

A champion for educational equality within Compton’s schools, Zurita has earned a reputation as a passionate advocate who faces head-on complex issues on behalf of students and their families. Even prior to being elected, Zurita was a staunch advocate for strategies to close the academic achievement gap. 

Zurita believes we must emphasize the importance of the community as a whole assuming accountability for the momentous task of educating Compton Unified School District’s children.

“While school officials and public administrators are called to, and must, embrace accountability, there is a shared responsibility for learning, as well as achieving, which must exist between students and their families and the schools, district officials and the community in general. Compton will cannot wait for others to set our standards. We will set high standards for ourselves, academically, operationally and ethically, in pursuit of assuring student achievement,” says Zurita.

Zurita describes herself as an “atypical Board Member”. “I believe children should be culturally knowledgeable, as well as academically, when they matriculate from Compton.  We should be educating the whole child,” says Zurita.  Board Vice President Zurita is an advocate for higher education.  Her passion on the school board has been working to increase the graduation rate and she is actively working with California State University, Dominguez Hills and El Camino College Compton Center to increase the number of students entering and finishing college.  

She led the effort to open Compton Early College High School, where students can graduate from high school not only with a diploma but also with two years of college already completed.  This prestigious school has become an incentive for students to attend high school in the Compton Unified School District.

Zurita began her community service as an early teen, volunteering in the Meals On Wheels Program, which was directed by her mother for over 43 years. Satra served as their volunteer fundraiser for over 22 years.

Here are a few of the many honors Zurita has received throughout her distinguished career:

• California Democratic Party Delegate
• California School Board Delegate
• Board of Directors – Jefferson Foundation Los Angeles
• 2011 Los Angeles County Democratic Party 52nd Assembly District Woman of the Year
• Member – 52nd Assembly District Advisory Commission
• Member – 52nd Assembly District Democratic Club
• Vice President, Emeritus – AFSCME Local 2325, City of Compton Management Employees
• Member – New Wave Democratic Club
• Lifetime Member – NAACP
• Board of Directors – Ester’s Rosecrans Manor
• Board of Directors – Compton Council of Campfire, Inc.
• Board of Directors – Boys and Girls Club
• Board of Directors – Jarambe Community Housing Development Organization
• PTA President – Drew Child Development Corporation
• Assistant Director – Compton Summer Arts Program
• WOW Award (Woman of Water) – Water Replenishment District
• Vehicle of Change Award – Top Ladies of Distinction
• Vehicle of Change Exemplary Achievement Award – Congresswoman Laura Richardson
• Outstanding Achievement Award – Brotherhood Crusade
• Outstanding Achievement Award – Brothers of the Sun

Zurita’s career began in private enterprise and later transitioned into an expanding career within her own community. Zurita currently serves as a Senior Administrative Analyst with the City of Compton’s Water Department.

Her former work experience includes:

• General Manager – Compton Ramada Hotel & Convention Center (258 employees)
• Assistant General Manager – Compton Lazben Hotel
• Sales Manager – Compton Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Facility Manager – Martin Luther King, Jr. Transit Center
• Project Manager – Federal Aviation Administration
• Project Manager – United States Air Force Base, El Segundo, CA

She efficiently manages contracts of the City’s Renaissance Transit; Dial A Taxi; the Los Angeles County Animal Control; the City’s Graffiti Abatement Program; and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Additionally, Zurita serves as manager of the City’s Film Permits.

Her former work experience includes:

• General Manager – Compton Ramada Hotel & Convention Center (258 employees)
• Facility Manager – Martin Luther King, Jr. Transit Center
• Project Manager – Federal Aviation Administration
• Project Manager – United States Air Force Base, El Segundo, CA
• Professional Manager – Zurita Management – managing children in the entertainment industry

 Zurita has completed undergraduate studies at the University of California at Irvine; Loyola Marymount University, California State University, Long Beach; and California State University, Dominguez Hills. She holds certificates in Meeting Planning and Special Event Coordination from California State University, Long Beach.

Term Expires: 3/2024
Trustees Area: C
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Born and reared in Compton, California, Micah Ali brings a keen grasp of the complex issues facing urban schools to help champion students, working families and urban communities. A member of the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees, Ali recently completed two consecutive terms as the Board’s President, making him the longest serving President in the history of the Compton Unified School District, where he helped lead a dramatic turnaround of the district’s educational outcomes as well as help pull it from the brink of state takeover (or state receivership).

Ali is returning as CUBE Chair. Appointed in December of 2021, Ali’s long record of public service and community engagement includes serving as the Chair of the Council of Urban Boards of Education in 2017. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in expanding CUBE’s engagement of urban school districts as well as championed (or authored) NSBA’s equity platform. Also while serving as CUBE Chair, he authored several articles on equity in education, covering issues such as fostering welcoming environments for LGBTQA+ student community, special education, and early education.

Ali is also Founder and Conference Chairman of the California Association of Black School Educators, which brings together education leaders and advocates advancing innovation and best practices around closing the opportunity gap for Black students. Most recently, under his leadership, CABSE released a Blueprint for Education Equity—a living document of best and promising practices from across the state to address the opportunity gap for Black students. The Blueprint and CABSE have received support from a host of sponsors and funders, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Ali is also a member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. He also previously served as a Board Member for both the National School Boards Association and the California School Boards Association.

Throughout his years of service, Ali has been at the forefront of efforts to advance education equity for all students. He works with school districts and education leaders across the United States with a particular focus on helping school boards operationalize equity and high student expectations in order to secure real and measurable improvements in student achievement, student opportunity, fiscal administration, and board governance. Ali has also helped lead legislative efforts in California to broaden access to Early Care and Education for low-income children, establish school-based health centers to make health care more readily available to children in local communities, and expand opportunities for academic excellence in public schools. Ali brings robust experience in achieving organizational transformation, education board effectiveness, land use and development, and ground-breaking partnerships which have significantly marked improvements in student achievement and student opportunity.

Ali recently completed 4-year term on the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board and was recently selected as Chair-Elect of the National Black Council of School Board Members. He is a proud graduate of Loyola Marymount University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Education.

If you have ideas that can help Ali in his efforts to improve our schools, please E-mail him at mali@compton.k12.ca.us.