Presentation about the directors, faculty, staff at Citizen Learning Academy, a non-public school specializing in educating students with special needs.

1. About Citizen Learning
Academy
Citizen Learning Academy (CLA) is a Nonpublic
School, certified by the California Department of
Education.
The primary aim of the school is to serve the
growing special education needs of those youths
whose adjustment to the traditional public school
setting has not been successful. Focus is placed not
only on academics, but also on social training, while
addressing the individual needs that are outlined in
the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), CLA is
equipped to service students who need various
special education criteria, including Emotional
Disturbance (ED), Autism (AUT), Mental Retardation
(MR), and Specific Learning Disability (SLD).
The school operates a safe, clean environment with
newly remodeled classrooms, restrooms and
counseling facility. Students are served breakfast
and lunch indoors or in a spacious outside eating
area.
Our Nonpublic school allows the advantage of a
small classroom setting, roundtrip transportation to
and from the school site and individual or group
counseling. Classroom size is limited to a maximum
of 12 students. A fully credentialed special education
teacher, who is on-site at all times, along with a
trained assistant facilitates each class, DIS
Counseling and Speech Pathologist are delivered by
on-site Licensed Credentialed personnel.
Copyright © 2005 Citizen Learning Academy All
rights reserved.
About CLA’s Teachers
Mr. and Mrs. Ingram selects highly
qualified teachers and trained staff
from diverse cultural and professional
backgrounds.
Each individual share similar work
ethics and genuinely care for children.
Her staff consists of women who are
actively involved in their communities.
Learn more about these fascinating
women, as well as the impressive
portfolios of CLA’s Directors.

2. About CLA’s Directors
Jesse Ingram, Associate Director
Mr. Ingram is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and lives
in Los Angeles with his lovely wife Crystal.
He has two sons and one daughter, two daughter-in-
laws, and a granddaughter.
A graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA,
Mr. Ingram earned his B.A. in Business
Administration/Economics in 1969, and his MBA in
Finance in 1977, from CSU, Dominguez Hills, CA.
He holds a Lifetime Teaching Credential, as well as
studied Business Law.
Before becoming the Associate Director
of Citizen Learning Academy, he was an
Owner/Operator of several McDonald’s
Corporations for 40 years. In addition, he was a
Marketing and Planning Manager for Xerox
Corporation, as well as a Cost Control Manager for
Northrop Corporation. He has been a Salesperson
for Sears, a Buyer for Rich’s Department Store,
and a representative of the Atlanta Transit
System.
Mr. Ingram is the Chairman of Ministry at Mount
Tabor Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
Crystal Ingram, Director
Mrs. Ingram is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and
resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband. She
has two sons, Demetrius and Darius; a daughter,
Deanna; two daughter-in-laws, Michelle & Helen;
and a granddaughter, Micah. Mrs. Ingram’s
children are college graduates of Morehouse and
Spelman Colleges.
In addition to being the Director of Citizen
Learning Academy, Mrs. Ingram has worked in
the Los Angeles Unified School District as a
teacher, a Mathematician, an Engineer for
Northrop, an Editor, and Owner/Operator.
Mrs. Ingram is a Deaconess of Mount Tabor
Baptist Church, a volunteer of the Los Angelenoes
for City Hall. Mrs. Ingram is also a member of
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
She loves to participate in the Olympics as a
greeter, and has traveled all over the world.
Gardening, collecting antiques from traveling
shows, and helping children in need are her
passions.
“One of my most important jobs was being a mother”.

3. Jessye Carter Robinson
Mrs. Robinson is widowed to the late Leonard Robinson. She
has a daughter, Michelle; a son-in-law, Michael Reynolds ;
and five grandsons.
Mrs. Robinson grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended
Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. She graduated from
the University of Wisconsin in 1972.
Moving to Los Angeles and graduating from CSU, Dominguez
Hills, Mrs. Robinson earned Handicapped Specialist License, as
well as her Certificate in Autism. She has over 30+ years as a
teacher in both Milwaukee and Los Angeles schools. Working
with the Los Angeles Unified School District as a teacher for
75th Street School, she held several professional positions,
including K-12 Whole Classroom Instruction, Special Day Class
as Resource Specialist, Math Coach, and served in the Reading
and Tutoring Program, and numerous committees.
Receiving such honors as Teacher of the Year, nominated
eight times as Whose Who Among Educators, she is among
the “Elite of Educators”.
A member of the Matrons Mission Society, she holds several
positions on the Local, District, and State level. As a devoted
Sunday School teacher she reaches youth with her no
nonsense approach and unrelenting guidance.
In addition, she is a member of both Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Inc. and Eta Phi Beta, Sorority, Inc. proactively
serving the needs of her committee on a grassroots level as
well as nationwide.
Mrs. Robinson enjoys reading novels, playing games, studying
the Bible, and traveling.
As an Educator Mrs. Robinson recommends students to Do
their Best to become Successful.
Ann Taylor
Mrs. Ann Taylor is the proud wife of Ira Taylor. She has one son,
Gregory Montgomery and one foster daughter, JoAnn Nelson
three grandchildren, Alexa, Kayla, and Greyson Montgomery. Mrs.
Taylor is a native of Gadsden, Alabama where she graduated from
Carver High School . She received her B.S. Degree in Education
from Alabama A & M University, Huntsville, Alabama. Mrs. Taylor
began her teaching career at South Gadsden Elementary, Gadsden,
Alabama , where she taught for three years and moved to Inkster,
Michigan and continued her passion for teaching. While in
Michigan, she received her Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan
University.
Mrs. Taylor moved to Los Angeles and began teaching in the Los
Angeles Unified School District. She received her certification in
Special Education from California Lutheran College. She earned her
Administrative certification from Pepperdine University. Mrs. Taylor
also holds a degree in Systematic Evangelism from Bethany Bible
College. A member of Rock of Faith Baptist Church, she teaches
Sunday School, Mission Bible Class and sings in the Senior Choir.
She taught in LAUSD for 30 years as a Whole Classroom Teacher,
Resource Specialist, Title I Coordinator and Temporary Assistant
Principal, as well as a Music Teacher. After retirement, she taught
at San Pedro Academy, a Nonpublic School for nine years.
Mrs. Taylor is a member of both Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and
Tau Gamma Delta Sorority Inc..
Mrs. Taylor enjoys bowling and crocheting.
“Students should Do Their Best at all times”.

4. Mattie Davis, ABA
Mrs. Davis is a retired Behavioral Interventionist for
the Long Beach Unified School District. She worked
for LBUSD for over 30 years, and is happily married
to Norwood Davis, a retired Sheriff’s Deputy.
Mrs. Davis has been working with the students of
CLA for eight years and does a remarkable job of
managing some of the most challenging of
behaviors. She has two daughters, Danielle and
Nicole, both are graduates of Howard University, and
one works at the Smithsonian Institute in
Washington D.C. Her son-in-laws are Byron and
Vernon. She also has nine grandchildren, and look
forward to their visits from Detroit, Michigan to
California every Summer and Christmas.
Mrs. Davis is a Singer and Choir Director and
facilitates the End of School Year Program, lending
her expertise in CLAs Music Department.
World Traveler
Project Manager
Conflict Resolution
“It is not where we live that counts, it is how we live
that counts”.
Diane Garcia, One-on-One
Ms. Garcia is the proud mother of two daughters,
Krystal and Terry, and a son, Johnny. They are all
Honor students.
Mrs. Garcia majored in Business Administration
and Child Development at Southwest College and
is Certified as a Preschool Teacher/Director. In
addition, she is a Certified Dental Assistant.
She has been serving the students of Citizen
Learning Academy since the beginning of the
school’s grand opening. After leaving for a short
time to live in Bakersfield, CA. and returning, she
was surprised to see how much the young
elementary students had grown into respectable
teenagers. Many of them still remembered her.
Ms. Garcia is a One-on-One Aide to CLAs students
with moderate behavioral difficulties and does an
excellent job in calming and managing their
behaviors.
Ms. Garcia loves reading, traveling, interior
decorating, art, cooking and being a positive role
model to children and young adults.

5. About the Author & Poet
Ambi B. Smith
A native Californian, Ambi is the eldest of five siblings, one sister and
three brothers. All of whom reside in Southern California. She
currently has five nephews and three nieces. A graduate of Taft High
School in Woodland Hills, CA. She earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies at
CSU, Fresno, and is starting student teaching at National University in
Los Angeles, earning a Master of Arts in Education with a Single
Subject in English and Certificates in Autism and Educational
Technology.
She has over 20 years of experience in Office Administration and
Management, two years as a Teacher’s Aide and Computer Resource
Assistant with Fresno Unified School District, and seven years with
Citizen Learning Academy as an Administrative Assistant, Teacher’s
Aide, Computer Science Teacher and Substitute English and History
Teacher.
In addition to serving students of Citizen Learning Academy as a
Computer Science Teacher, she has worked on several Project
Management renovations, including the Administrative Office and
Hanger Project at West Los Angeles Community College, American
Airlines @ Terminal 4/LAX Renovation Project, and the UCLA
Replacement Hospital Project , now known as Ronald Reagan and
Mattel Children’s Hospital. She has also worked as both a Program
Administrator and Student Accounts Coordinator for Pepperdine
University, in the School of Education and Psychology.
Ambi serves in the Media Ministry as a camera operator for West
Angeles Cathedral, Bishop Blake, Pastor. She also volunteers for the
Special Olympics World Games.
Ambi is the author of “My Five Nephews and Their Tech Toys”. She
enjoys teaching, traveling, reading, writing, photography,
videotaping, and Zumba.
School Daze
Children laughing
Children crying
School brings diverse kids.
Children sharing
Children caring
School brings teachers together
for a common cause.
Children fussing
Children hitting
Teachers teach kids
to pause and think.
Children learning
Children thinking
About how they can make a
Difference in the World.

6. About the Community of CLA
Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church,
Ticey Brown, Pastor
Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated,
Kappa Chapter
Community Service
Briar Crest Nursing Facility in Bell Gardens, CA
Century Villa Inc., Inglewood, CA
Los Angeles County Fair, Discovery Kids

7. CLA Photo Album

8. Mrs. Frazier, ASL Teacher
Best Wishes To Our
2014 Graduates!
Justin Landrum
Anthony Jones Jr.

9. Making Friends

10. L.A. County Fair (2013)

11. Community Service; Computer & Drum
Lessons; City Hall

12. End of School Year Program 2012-2013;
American Sign Language

13. UniverSoul Circus; LA County Fair;
Pepperdine University; Study & Fun Time

14. Asian American Heritage Month @ City Hall
and Genaro & Lamar caught on camera in City Hall Chambers

15. CLA Shining Stars

16. American Indian Heritage Month
@ City Hall & Thanksgiving Food Drive (2014)

17. L.A. County Fair 2012-2013

18. 2012-2013 End of School Year Program

19. African American Heritage Month
@ City Hall and The Museum of African American Art
Louis Gossett Jr.

20. The Gallery of Cordella & Larry Davis
CSU, Dominguez Hills

21. The Gallery of Cordella & Larry Davis
CSU, Dominguez Hills

22. Mrs. Quarles, The Story Teller

23. Eta Phi Beta Career Day (2014)

24. Eta Phi Beta Inc., Kappa Chapter
CLA End of School Year Program 2012-2013

27. References
1. Citizen Learning Academy (CLA) Parent &
Student Handbook, “Citizen Learning Academy
“Who Are We”, Copyright (2005)
2. Nelson Mandela “Education” Quote
3. Maya Angelou “Courage” Quote
Ambi Beatrice Smith, Author
seajewel2025@outlook.com