Lonzie L. Johnson, MBA, Executive Director
Mr. Johnson is a native Californian and has resided in Altadena, CA since 1982. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UCLA in 1973, and Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix in 2004.
With more than three decades of insurance, reinsurance, and claims management experience, Mr. Johnson has developed a sharp eye for how businesses can retool for a sleeker, smoother, strategically focused organization. His clients have ranged from conglomerate giants like Chevron/Texaco and Exxon/Mobil to Mom-and-Pop businesses, with most having less than 10 employees and $2 million in annual sales.
He is a credentialed California educator and Executive Director of Seeds of Faith, a non-profit outreach learning center in Pasadena, CA, in which these organizations have made him a sound authority on youth and pop-culture trends. Mr. Johnson is an engaging and immensely entertaining educator who has shown hundreds of high school students how to enhance their learning, communication, creativity, problem-solving and thinking skills. His “critical thinking” sessions explore the real possibilities of the human mind and shows how technology can help youths achieve their dreams and become life-long learners.
Mr. Johnson is also the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Class Leaders’ Newsletter for First African Methodist Episcopal Church - Pasadena, and publisher for the Business Management /Entrepreneurship Academy at John Muir High School, Pasadena, CA. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Northwest Pasadena Apprenticeship Training Facility.
With more than three decades of insurance, reinsurance, and claims management experience, Mr. Johnson has developed a sharp eye for how businesses can retool for a sleeker, smoother, strategically focused organization. His clients have ranged from conglomerate giants like Chevron/Texaco and Exxon/Mobil to Mom-and-Pop businesses, with most having less than 10 employees and $2 million in annual sales.
He is a credentialed California educator and Executive Director of Seeds of Faith, a non-profit outreach learning center in Pasadena, CA, in which these organizations have made him a sound authority on youth and pop-culture trends. Mr. Johnson is an engaging and immensely entertaining educator who has shown hundreds of high school students how to enhance their learning, communication, creativity, problem-solving and thinking skills. His “critical thinking” sessions explore the real possibilities of the human mind and shows how technology can help youths achieve their dreams and become life-long learners.
Mr. Johnson is also the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Class Leaders’ Newsletter for First African Methodist Episcopal Church - Pasadena, and publisher for the Business Management /Entrepreneurship Academy at John Muir High School, Pasadena, CA. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Northwest Pasadena Apprenticeship Training Facility.
Adrian K. Panton, Attorney at Law
Mr. Panton was born in Brooklyn, New York and resided in the St. Albans area of Queens, New York through graduation from high school. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1967 and a Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in Columbus, Ohio in 1972.
Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Panton moved to Los Angeles where he practiced law with the California State Public Defender and the California Attorney General. Mr. Panton retired from the Office of the California Attorney General in June 2007. In his retirement, Mr. Panton has continued his work as a hospice volunteer for Southern California Kaiser Permanente and serves as a volunteer with the Pasadena Museum of History. He also works part-time representing indigent defendants in the appeals of their felony criminal convictions.
Mr. Panton is a member of First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pasadena. He is active in the music department of the church where he serves as the President of the Men’s Chorus and is a member of the Voices of First, the adult mixed gender choir. Mr. Panton is also an interim member of the Board of Directors of Seeds of Faith.
Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Panton moved to Los Angeles where he practiced law with the California State Public Defender and the California Attorney General. Mr. Panton retired from the Office of the California Attorney General in June 2007. In his retirement, Mr. Panton has continued his work as a hospice volunteer for Southern California Kaiser Permanente and serves as a volunteer with the Pasadena Museum of History. He also works part-time representing indigent defendants in the appeals of their felony criminal convictions.
Mr. Panton is a member of First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pasadena. He is active in the music department of the church where he serves as the President of the Men’s Chorus and is a member of the Voices of First, the adult mixed gender choir. Mr. Panton is also an interim member of the Board of Directors of Seeds of Faith.
Pamela Hughes, Retired Principal
Ms. Hughes was born in South Bend, Indiana where she received her elementary, middle school, and high school education. Upon finishing high school she enrolled at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana where she received her Bachelor of Science in Education. Upon graduating from college, she took a position as a kindergarten/reading specialist in the South Bend Community School System for one year.
Ms. Hughes moved to California in 1970 and began her career with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Ms. Hughes’ career as an educator spanned forty years. She was a classroom teacher for thirty years, teaching grades Pre K-Sixth grade. She was an Assistant Principal for five years and then became a Principal for the last five years of her career.
As a principal she worked at Ninth Street Elementary School which had the largest population of homeless students in the state of California. She worked with a yearly budget of approximately $450,000 and a long with her staff raised test scores 86 points.
Ms. Hughes has been on the board of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and was instrumental in forming a coalition that provided services for homeless children at Ninth Street School.
Ms. Hughes moved to California in 1970 and began her career with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Ms. Hughes’ career as an educator spanned forty years. She was a classroom teacher for thirty years, teaching grades Pre K-Sixth grade. She was an Assistant Principal for five years and then became a Principal for the last five years of her career.
As a principal she worked at Ninth Street Elementary School which had the largest population of homeless students in the state of California. She worked with a yearly budget of approximately $450,000 and a long with her staff raised test scores 86 points.
Ms. Hughes has been on the board of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and was instrumental in forming a coalition that provided services for homeless children at Ninth Street School.
Ethel C. Broussard, Life-Time Teacher
Ethel C. Broussard is a native of Pasadena, California and currently resides in the Altadena area. She is a product of all Pasadena Unified School District schools including George Washington Junior High, John Muir High School, and Pasadena City College. Higher learning earned her a BA Degree in Elementary Education with a major in English from California State University at Los Angeles, a life-time Teaching Credential (grades K-8), and a MA in Education from Azusa Pacific University.
Although currently retired, she was employed for 37 years (1967-2004) by the Los Angeles Unified School District as an educator. She has received various awards and commendations as a master training teacher for UCLA, CSULA, and a mentor teacher, Language Arts Teacher of the Year, Health Coordinator, grad level chair, and other positions.
Her community involvements include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, the Red Cross, and the NAACP.
As a member of First African Methodist Episcopal Church-Pasadena, California for many years, she has served in many positions. Among these positions are Sunday school teacher, Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School/Vacation Bible School, Trustee, member of the Women’s Missionary Society, Lay Organization, Bible Study, Senior Ministry, tutor at Seeds of Faith and their Board of Directors.
Although currently retired, she was employed for 37 years (1967-2004) by the Los Angeles Unified School District as an educator. She has received various awards and commendations as a master training teacher for UCLA, CSULA, and a mentor teacher, Language Arts Teacher of the Year, Health Coordinator, grad level chair, and other positions.
Her community involvements include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, the Red Cross, and the NAACP.
As a member of First African Methodist Episcopal Church-Pasadena, California for many years, she has served in many positions. Among these positions are Sunday school teacher, Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School/Vacation Bible School, Trustee, member of the Women’s Missionary Society, Lay Organization, Bible Study, Senior Ministry, tutor at Seeds of Faith and their Board of Directors.
Bertha B. Willis, Teacher
Ms. Willis was born in Meridian, Mississippi. She graduated from Clarke Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. Ms. Willis also received a California Lifetime Teaching Credential for grades K-8th from California State University at Los Angeles, and a Master of Science Degree in Pupil Personnel Services from Azusa Pacific University.
She was employed for 34 years as a teacher and counselor for by the Pasadena Unified School District.
Ms. Willis is a member of the National Sorority Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Gamma Lambda Chapter. She is an active member in the capacity of a Church Steward, Richard Allen Usher Board, Lay Organization, Women’s Fellowship, and Repast Committee at First AME Church-Pasadena.
She was employed for 34 years as a teacher and counselor for by the Pasadena Unified School District.
Ms. Willis is a member of the National Sorority Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Gamma Lambda Chapter. She is an active member in the capacity of a Church Steward, Richard Allen Usher Board, Lay Organization, Women’s Fellowship, and Repast Committee at First AME Church-Pasadena.
Dr. Pamela Short Powell, Facilitator
Dr. Pamela Short Powell has spent the last thirty-five years serving as an educator in the public school system. She served as the Superintendent of Schools of the Inglewood Unified School District, the Interim Superintendent for the Oklahoma City Public Schools, the Chief Academic Officer for Oklahoma City Public Schools, and the Assistant Superintendent for Schools, Director of Elementary Instruction, Principal, Curriculum Resource Specialist and teacher for the Pasadena Unified School District.
As Superintendent Dr. Powell served as the Board of Education’s Chief Executive Officer and adviser. She was responsible for the supervision and management of the day-to-day operations of the School District and provided leadership and educational advice to the Board of Education, Administrators, teachers, support staff and community. She was responsible for the supervision and implementation of all programs and services.
She actively and successfully pursued various community outreach ventures for the benefit of children, such as implementing the Adopt-A-School Program; establishing a partnership with the Association of Inglewood Ministry Alliance; and initiated a district-wide fatherhood outreach effort. Test scores in both school districts she served as Superintendent and Interim increased as the result of concentrating on student and professional needs and enhancing and increasing the number of comprehensive professional development programs for teachers and administrators. Under her leadership in Inglewood, the administration negotiated a $116 million dollar facility agreement with LAX to sound proof schools and made noticeable improvements at school and District facilities.
She is the president of the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators, the Secretary of the National Council on Educating Black Children and serves on the Superintendent’s Council for the Association of California School Administrators. She is currently involved with other national educational leader in implementing legislation that focus on Black Males: Increasing Graduation Rates and Preventing Drop Out Rates through a platform of Education is a Civil Right.
In addition to her responsibilities within the District, Dr. Powell has actively participated and served on several Boards and committees that impact students and their families, teachers and support staff members including .the following: Human Service Commissioner for the City of Pasadena; Member of the Board of Directors for the San Gabriel Urban League, Day One Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program; Pasadena Affiliate of the National Black Child Development Institute; Pasadena Planned Parenthood Council; California Child Development Policy Institute; Advisory Board to the Armory Center for the Arts; Pasadena Arts Commission; YMCA; and State of California Master Plan Committee on Education for School Readiness. She has been a visiting professor for the University of San Diego and Azusa Pacific University.
Dr. Powell has received the NAACP Distinguished Educator’s and Community Service Award; Education Excellence Award, Soroptimist Education Excellence Award; Nova University Herbert A. Drew National Ed.D. Program for Educational Leaders Award; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ebony Excellence Women of Vision Award; National Association of University Women Award; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Woman of the Year Award; Pasadena Links Educator’s Award; Pasadena Community College; Association of Black Employees Community Service Award; the Pasadena Journal Educator’s Award; California Distinguished School Principal’s Award; and the National Association of Health Education Award. She has appeared on several television programs, radio talk shows, and has been featured in numerous articles and publications regarding her advocacy for children and her work as an educator.
As Superintendent Dr. Powell served as the Board of Education’s Chief Executive Officer and adviser. She was responsible for the supervision and management of the day-to-day operations of the School District and provided leadership and educational advice to the Board of Education, Administrators, teachers, support staff and community. She was responsible for the supervision and implementation of all programs and services.
She actively and successfully pursued various community outreach ventures for the benefit of children, such as implementing the Adopt-A-School Program; establishing a partnership with the Association of Inglewood Ministry Alliance; and initiated a district-wide fatherhood outreach effort. Test scores in both school districts she served as Superintendent and Interim increased as the result of concentrating on student and professional needs and enhancing and increasing the number of comprehensive professional development programs for teachers and administrators. Under her leadership in Inglewood, the administration negotiated a $116 million dollar facility agreement with LAX to sound proof schools and made noticeable improvements at school and District facilities.
She is the president of the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators, the Secretary of the National Council on Educating Black Children and serves on the Superintendent’s Council for the Association of California School Administrators. She is currently involved with other national educational leader in implementing legislation that focus on Black Males: Increasing Graduation Rates and Preventing Drop Out Rates through a platform of Education is a Civil Right.
In addition to her responsibilities within the District, Dr. Powell has actively participated and served on several Boards and committees that impact students and their families, teachers and support staff members including .the following: Human Service Commissioner for the City of Pasadena; Member of the Board of Directors for the San Gabriel Urban League, Day One Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program; Pasadena Affiliate of the National Black Child Development Institute; Pasadena Planned Parenthood Council; California Child Development Policy Institute; Advisory Board to the Armory Center for the Arts; Pasadena Arts Commission; YMCA; and State of California Master Plan Committee on Education for School Readiness. She has been a visiting professor for the University of San Diego and Azusa Pacific University.
Dr. Powell has received the NAACP Distinguished Educator’s and Community Service Award; Education Excellence Award, Soroptimist Education Excellence Award; Nova University Herbert A. Drew National Ed.D. Program for Educational Leaders Award; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ebony Excellence Women of Vision Award; National Association of University Women Award; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Woman of the Year Award; Pasadena Links Educator’s Award; Pasadena Community College; Association of Black Employees Community Service Award; the Pasadena Journal Educator’s Award; California Distinguished School Principal’s Award; and the National Association of Health Education Award. She has appeared on several television programs, radio talk shows, and has been featured in numerous articles and publications regarding her advocacy for children and her work as an educator.
Lamont McGhee, Information Technology Specialist
May 17, 1950 - September 9, 2011
Mr. Lamont McGhee, principal of Advanced Digital Designs, a Consulting and Design firm, and Treasurer of FAME-Seeds of Faith, Inc, was Called Home to Glory on Friday, September 9, 2011. Our deepest condolences are extended to his wife, Carmelle, and family.
We love you brother..... Be with God and Rest in Peace..........
We love you brother..... Be with God and Rest in Peace..........
