EP School Named After Latina Writer Cisneros

Echo Park's new school has a new name: It will be called the "Sandra Cisneros Learning Academy" after the internationally-acclaimed Mexican-American author.

The Los Angeles Unified School District board voted unanimously on Tuesday to adopt the name.

Cisneros is the author of The House on Mango Street and other books that reflect the Latina perspective.

Cisneros was actually born in Chicago, but Yolie Flores, who represents the area near the school on the LAUSD board, and others felt she makes a good role model for students.

Flores is quoted in a press release as saying, "Sandra Cisnero’s books, life and career, first as a teacher and then as a literary artist, reflect a celebration of culture, history and excellence that our children can embrace.”

Classes begin in September at the new academy, which will be operated by Camino Nuevo Charter Academy.

It is not known who proposed the name or who spoke in support of it at Tuesday's hearing.

e who grew up in Solano Canyon and went to Yale and Stanford.

But the idea never made it out of a subcommittee. Several attending thdu meeting noted that few LAUSD schools are named after Latinas.