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Board Members

 
Leadership Military Academy
Board of Directors
2022-2023
 
The Leadership  Military  Academy  (LMA) / Board of Directors consists  of  a  minimum  of  three  (3)  and  a  maximum  of  seven (7)  directors,  including:  one  (1)  ex  officio seat  reserved  for  a  representative  appointed  by  the  Riverside  County  Board  of  Education  (authorizing  agency) as required by Education Code Section 47604(b); and as a specific requirement of   this   charter,   two   (2)   seats   reserved   for   parent   representatives. “Parent representative” for  this  purpose  means  a  parent,  guardian,  or  adult  relative  of  a currently enrolled LMA student. The Leadership Military Academy Board of Directors operates under authority of the Riverside County Board of Education (Authorizer), The California Constitution, the State Legislature, the State Education Code, and the State Board of Education. The Board of Directors has responsibility for:
 
    1. Acting as the appellate agency for LMA student expulsions.
    2. Adopting bylaws and policies governing the operation of LMA.
    3. Adopting the LMA annual budget.
    4. Adopting the LMA school calendar.
    5. Consulting with the Executive Director on his or her recommendations and acting upon them.
    6. Exercising control of LMA in accordance with the State and Federal Constitution, and applicable laws and regulations.
    7. Participation in the adopted complaint procedures contained in LMA policy.
    8. Providing adequate housing, equipment, supplies and other facilities for the operation of LMA.
    9. Hearing communications, written and/or oral from citizens and organizations on matters of administration, finance, organization, policy and program.
 
 
Spires
William Spires, Board President
Retired Educator
Term: 2023
 
William Spires has been affiliated with education for forty-five years. Mr. Spires taught school in San Jacinto and Banning and has served two stints as Principal. He has worked on the support side of administration at the district and county levels. Mr. Spires has been a Facilities Manager, Business Manager, and Director of Information Technology. He finished his career prior to retiring at the Riverside County Office of Education as the Executive Director of Fiscal Services. Mr. Spires also served on the Successor Agency Board to the Banning Redevelopment Agency and on the Building Corporation Board for the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. He has a Bachelor’s degree in History and Master’s degree in Education from the University of California, Riverside. He has served on our Board of Directors since 2013.
 
 
Esp
Alejandro Espinoza, MPH, CHES, Board Vice President
Ex-Officio, Authorizing Agency
Term: Ongoing
 
Alejandro Espinoza serves as the Program Officer and Outreach Director for the Desert Healthcare District/Foundation and as a faculty member at California State University, Fullerton, where he teaches Community Health Education. He previously served as a Program Director of Chronic Diseases and Special Projects at Latino Health Access (LHA) in Santa Ana, California. His tenure at LHA provided him the opportunity to work alongside community-based organizations throughout the country assisting in the design and implementation of programs and services utilizing the community health worker (Promotora) model. Mr. Espinoza has also collaborated with academic institutions, public and private organizations, and community-based organizations in their efforts to conduct research via focus groups, pilot research programs and community forums within the Latino community. He serves in multiple committees’ and sits on various governing boards providing his expertise and knowledge of community-based participatory research, health and wellness programs, and the utilization of the community health worker (Promotora) model within under-served communities.
 
 
Francis
Michael T. Francis, Board Chief Financial Officer
Community Member
Term: 2024
 
M. T. Francis started his career in the aluminum casting industry, manufacturing engine components. In November 2001 shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center, Mr. Francis was deputized by United States Office of Homeland Security (now known as the Department of Homeland Security) under the Patriot Act of 2001 to ensure all aluminum and magnesium castings related to the United States wartime effort (California region 9) were held as a priority to the foundries tasked with the castings. In 2008 when the governments stockpile hit a satisfactory level. Mr. Francis returned to Palm Springs to continue in the aluminum casting industry where he owns and operates his family’s business. M. T. Francis still contracts with major aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Boeing Phantom Works in Southern California.
 
 
Tipton
Robert Tipton, Board Secretary
Community Representative
Term: 2023
 
Robert Tipton is General Manager of IDS communications company overseeing the daily operation of the company. Mr. Tipton is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, a member of the American Legion, Son of the American Legion, and Veteran of Foreign Wars. His experience brings a military and leadership perspective to the Leadership Military Academy.  He has been Commander of the American Legion Post 422 and has served as the finance officer for seven years and is still the finance officer for the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 422.
 
 
 
Mr. Harris
Robert C. Harris, Board Member
Parent Representative
Term: 2022
 
Robert C. Harris is a parent and grandparent of LMA students. He is a Retired State of California Peace Officer. He started his career in Law Enforcement with the Riverside County Juvenile Probation Department as a Senior Group Counselor . He also worked as a Group Supervisor at the California Youth Training School (YTS) in Chino Ca. He has a Bachelor’s of Science in Sociology and Urban Studies from the University of California at Riverside (1983) Mr. Harris is a Retired Substitute Teacher for Riverside Unified School District. He was the Project Director for Riverside Urban League's “Project S.T.A.R Sports, Tutoring, Arts and Recreation", a program to promote self-esteem in a supervised environment. He is the Current Director of the Pathfinder Program, a Seventh Day Adventist Youth program with focus on character development through service, learning and outdoor activities. Mr. Harris is a founding Board member of the Bobby Bonds Day Sports and Youth Festival event held each summer in Riverside California.