CHANGETHELAUSD.COM

Charter School Makes The Case Against Its Renewal

When the founder of Crete Academy is not lying about his charter school’s record, he is blaming others for failing to educate his students.

“There are several inaccurate legal and factual assertions” in Crete’s letter to LACOE.

– Sarah Ziegenhorn, LAUSD Charter School Division

In today’s political environment, it should not be surprising when a public figure feels comfortable making statements that have no basis in reality. Still, the ease with which Brett Mitchell distorted the facts as he addressed the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) board was remarkable. Even more incredulous was that the actual data was readily accessible, sometimes in the very paperwork he had submitted on behalf of Crete Academy.

As co-founders of the charter school, Mitchell and his wife make a combined $390,982 annual salary running a school that focuses on the needs of homeless and economically disadvantaged students. Seeking to protect this income stream, he stood before the unelected LACOE Board on March 18, 2025, and asked them to reverse the LAUSD’s…