Meet our Admin Team
- Cary Rabinowitz, Director
- Walter Gomez, Assistant Director
- Beth Henschel, Assistant Director
- Jazmin Luna, Expanded Learning Coordinator
- Ariana Gomez, Administrative Coordinator
Cary Rabinowitz, Director
Cary Rabinowitz
Director
Santa Monica Blvd Community Charter School
Mr. Rabinowitz is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and received his Bachelor’s Degree at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. After moving to California, Mr. Rabinowitz was a teacher for many years within both the Los Angeles Unified School District and at Montague Charter Academy in Pacoima. He then received his Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from California State University, Northridge in 2013 and moved into administration in 2015.
Mr. Rabinowitz is serving in his third year as Santa Monica’s Director after leading the Fenton Charter Leadership Academy in Sun Valley in 2017-2018. As our Director, Mr. Rabinowitz works closely with students, staff, and families to ensure rigorous, intentional teaching in the classroom, continuous and meaningful opportunities for parent and community engagement, and an overall differentiated, growth-minded and innovative school culture. Mr. Rabinowitz cherishes the work of all stakeholders at Santa Monica as it takes each one of us working together to make a difference in the lives of our students. It is his honor to lead our impressive, hardworking staff and to serve and cultivate learning in our community.
Walter Gomez, Assistant Director
Walter Gomez
Assistant Director
Santa Monica Blvd Community Charter School
Mr. Gomez has been with the Fenton Charter Public Schools for 11 years . He has served as both a kindergarten and 4th grade teacher before joining the administrative team. He has extensive team building and leadership experience as a grade level lead teacher, faculty representative, and as an English Language Development Lead. Walter appreciates the focus on the instructional practices and the attention dedicated to developing a well-rounded child here at SMBCCS. He is proud to bring his own children to Santa Monica to learn each and every day.
Beth Henschel, Assistant Director
Beth Henschel
Administrative Coordinator
Santa Monica Blvd Community Charter School
Ms. Henschel has worked in education for the past 24 years. She started as a general education teacher in 1997. She taught various grade levels from 1st to 5th grade at various schools, both public and private. After 10 years in the classroom, she was hired at SMBCCS as an Instructional Coach. In 2012, Ms. Henschel became one of the educational specialists at SMBCCS, where she took on various leadership roles, such as special education lead teacher and faculty representative.
Ms. Henschel loves being a part of the SMBCCS community and enjoys working with students, staff, parents, and community members. She is excited to be a part of the administrative team and hopes to bring her vast experiences to support all stakeholders. Ms. Henschel looks forward to working alongside and supporting the school community in her new role.
Jazmin Luna, Expanded Learning Coordinator
Jazmin Luna
Expanded Learning Coordinator
Santa Monica Blvd Community Charter School
Jazmin Luna uniquely identifies with the communities she serves, having experienced first-hand the struggles associated with growing up in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Ecuador and South Los Angeles. She diligently strives to provide her students with opportunities to build strong academic and social-emotional skills. Jazmin received her Bachelor's degree from UCLA in 2009. She started working at Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School (SMBCCS) as a paraprofessional in the classroom, and was also responsible for leading psychomotor classes for all grade levels. In 2015, she received her teaching credentials and Master's degree from the Western Governors University.
Ms. Luna has held numerous leadership roles in the classroom, from 2nd grade lead teacher to STEM lead. In 2022, Jazmin became SMBCCS' first Expanded Learning Coordinator. Jazmin's goal is to establish cohesiveness between regular day and after school programs, while also providing opportunities for all students after school, on the weekends, and during breaks. She looks forward to building relationships with all families.
Ariana Gomez, Administrative Coordinator
Ariana Gomez
Administrative Coordinator
Santa Monica Blvd Community Charter School
Ariana Gomez is a proud Mexican American educator that comes from immigrant parents. She has been at SMBCCS for 11 years. In those first 10 years she taught 3rd and 4th grade and had many leadership roles. She has also taken initiatives to help the community by organizing and planning events like “Pink Christmas,” which was a family led project that included giving families food, students backpacks and toys, and motivation through a Muay Thai demonstration during the holidays.
Mrs. Gomez loves to learn feels proud of her educational successes. She attended Cal State University Northridge and in 2012 received her Bachelor and teaching credential. She later returned to CSUN and received her Masters in Educational Technology in 2019. She has also completed a Bilingual Authorization program through University of Riverside. Most recently, she attended Cal State Dominguez Hills, where she completed her second Masters and credential in Educational Leadership. She feels very connected to the community and as the new Administrative Coordinator she is excited to work along all the teachers, students and families, and has a goal to continue to create a school culture that will enhance and provide students with what they need and motivate them to make a positive impact on their community.