Los Angeles, CA – The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) announced today that Luis Vizcaino joined as its new chief external affairs officer. Luis is a veteran Democratic spokesman with more than two decades of political campaign and government experience at the local, state and national level.
“We took great care in finding the right person to fill this critical role, and I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Luis to the team,” said Myrna Castrejón, president and CEO, CCSA. “Luis brings the communications expertise the charter school sector needs in this moment, and he is ready to take up the mantle in our common cause for greater equity, opportunity and access for all public school kids. I’m optimistic about the great things CCSA can accomplish with Luis on board in our efforts to improve public opinion and support for charter schools. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running with him.”
As the chief external affairs officer, Vizcaino will act with great urgency to amplify the role charter schools play in creating equity and opportunity in the public education system, particularly for California’s communities most in need of access to the great public education they deserve. He will lead CCSA’s communications team and contribute to overall organization-wide strategy while overseeing statewide branding, campaign efforts, and member communications.
“Every child, no matter their station in life, deserves access to an excellent public education. I’m honored to join CCSA, whose mission is to provide millions of California parents with public school choices that help their children thrive in the classroom and life,” said Vizcaino. “As a lifelong public servant, I have an abiding belief that educational opportunities designed to empower, inspire and challenge our students today will give them access to the American Dream tomorrow. I want to thank Myrna and the CCSA family for inviting me to be part of a team that advocates for high-quality public education for California’s students”
Vizcaino served as a campaign spokesperson for Presidential candidates Al Gore, John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. He was a spokesperson for Antonio Villaraigosa’s 2005 campaign for Los Angeles Mayor, and communications director for Antonio for California. He later served as communications director for Katie Porter’s historic Congressional victory in Orange County. Vizcaino was communications director at the Human Rights Campaign, the California Health and Human Services Agency under Governor Jerry Brown, and deputy communications director at the Welfare to Work Partnership. He was also press secretary for Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, and press aide to former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. At the Democratic National Committee, Vizcaino was recruited to be press secretary for the 2000 Democratic National Convention and rapid response director in Florida during the 2008 presidential election. In California, he was press deputy for the California Coordinate Campaign during the 1996 Presidential campaign and in 2001, communications advisor for the CA Democratic Party.
About the California Charter Schools Association
The vision of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) is to build great public schools of joy and rigor that prepare all California students for success in college, career, community, and life. The mission of CCSA is to meet parent, educator, and community need for great public school options by supporting and advocating for high quality non-profit charter schools and sharing their success throughout California’s public schools. Learn more.