Jeannette Andruss
Co-Founder
Jeannette Andruss is a longtime journalist, public school parent and believer that civil discourse and a free press are vital for democracy. She founded Spotlight Schools in 2021 with the help of the Tiny News Collective.
She writes and reports the weekly Spotlight Schools newsletter.
Before launching Spotlight Schools, Jeannette was a freelance journalist in Orange County and was published by The Los Angeles Times, The Sun Newspapers and the Event-News Enterprise.
Prior to freelancing, Jeannette worked in local TV news as a morning newscast producer for ABC7 and KTLA in Los Angeles and at various stations in San Diego. She earned her Masters Degree at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in 2003 and completed her undergraduate education at UC Berkeley. She was born and raised in Orange County and attended public schools from 4th-12th grades. She lives in Seal Beach with her husband and two kids. Her parents are from Puerto Rico. Wepa!
Follow Jeannette Andruss on Twitter @NetteAndruss
Stories by Jeannette Andruss
- Community
Girl's Goal of Giving
8th grader hopes to perform 100 hours of community service this school year
- News
Westminster School District hires new Superintendent
Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D., was fired as Orange Unified's Superintendent in January despite public outcry
- Community
Sunny seat at Seal Beach school honors beloved teacher
‘Caring Bench’ at McGaugh Elementary dedicated to Cari Crevda McQuiston who passed away in 2021
- Community
Time capsule from 1970 unveiled at Los Alamitos High School
Griffins from high school's first graduating class and current students share in historic moment
- Community
'Make your strangeness matter' is message in Kid Conference
Warner Middle School holds annual event run for and by students with 'Stranger Things' theme
- News
O.C. Board of Education says Waldorf public charter school cannot expand countywide but can add high school grades within Ocean View School District
Plus, Sycamore Creek Community Charter School's proposed expansion site is not actually within Los Alamitos USD boundaries
- News
O.C. Dept. of Education charter schools unit recommends denying Waldorf school’s request to open campus in Cypress
Sycamore Creek Community Charter School is asking the O.C. Board of Education for permission to expand
- News
Waldorf public charter school seeks to expand across O.C.
Los Alamitos USD opposes effort to open a Sycamore Creek Community Charter School campus in Cypress
- Community
School's sock drive spreads warmth with generosity
Lee Elementary School students collect more than 1,000 pairs of socks to donate
- News
Academic Innovation Showcase highlights 'specialty programs' in Westminster School District
Dual language immersion, computer science, environmental science a focus for district's schools
- Community
Pageant of the Arts celebrating 40 years at McGaugh Elementary
Fine arts program includes performances with students bringing artworks to life
- News
'The Loft,' space dedicated to student wellness, opens at Los Alamitos High School
Orange County Dept. of Education hopes to open 'WellSpaces' at all middle and high schools in O.C.
- News
New E-bike rules for students at Los Alamitos USD middle schools
Students will be required to take a safety class
- News
Superintendents ousted by two school boards in O.C.
Parents in Orange Unified and Capistrano Unified questioned the timing and reason for firings
- Community
McAuliffe Middle School names Campus Supervisor as its 'Hero of the Heart'
Cleveland "Bud" Jones praised for 'connecting with students'
- Community
Los Alamitos High School’s Interact Club helps local families in Holiday Giving Drive
Supporters give $40,000 worth of donations for annual drive benefitting Casa Youth Shelter and school district families
- Community
🚸 School crossing guard honored for 28 years of service
Betty Camacho was City of Seal Beach's longest serving school crossing guard
- News
Parents told to 'Run, Hide, Fight' if confronted by active shooter
Seal Beach police and McGaugh PTA co-hosted event on 'Surviving Gun Violence'
- News
Orange County's charter schools steadily growing
While public school enrollment has been declining across California, some O.C. charter campuses are gaining pupils
- News
Report on O.C.'s children shows decrease in high school dropout rate, increase in number of kids missing school, among other findings
28th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County assesses kids' education, health, economic well-being and safety
- Politics
🗳 Final election results released for school board races in O.C.
Some contests from the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election were decided by fewer than 60 votes.
- News
Police and McGaugh PTA hosting free public event on 'Surviving Gun Violence'
Dec. 8 presentation intended for people 18 and older
- Community
Parent volunteer who survived tragedy named 'Hero of the Heart'
Autumn Bignami praised for her service to Los Alamitos Elementary School
- Community
Youth football team fundraising to get to Pop Warner 'Super Bowl'
Los Alamitos team qualified for 13U Division II championship game in Florida
- Politics
🗳 Close contests in multiple school board races in Orange County as vote count continues
Candidates tied in one race for a seat on the Los Alamitos school board
- Politics
🗳 Preliminary election results for school board races in Orange County
Unofficial results show some races with candidates separated by 20 votes or less
- Politics
🗳Election 2022: Dynamics impacting races for Los Alamitos USD Board of Education
Candidates address a shift from districtwide voting to one based on trustee areas
- Community
School newspaper gets rebooted at Los Alamitos High School
Student journalism class returns to campus and launches Griffin Gazette website
- Community
Crossing guard named Rossmoor Elementary's 'Hero of the Heart' for 2022-23
Tom Germscheid: 'It's not just a job to me anymore. It's who I've become.'
- News
How did your O.C. school district score on California's standardized tests in 2022?
See links to tests results for each of the 28 public school districts in Orange County
- Civics
New rules for recall campaigns in California
Gov. Newsom signs bill into law to require more signatures to launch a recall and adds new standards for language on recall petition
- Politics
🗳 Election 2022: Los Alamitos School Board candidates answer questions about what they would do if they win
Election marks first time voters will cast ballots for candidates in Trustee Areas 1 and 3
- News
Man arrested; accused of threatening kids during movie night at McGaugh Elementary
Seal Beach Police stress this is an isolated incident
- Politics
🗳 Election 2022: Two seats on the ballot for Cypress School Board
In Trustee Area B, current city councilman, and spouse of the current board president is running to replace her, facing a parent endorsed by the teachers' union. In Trustee Area C, an incumbent is facing a newcomer.
- Civics
Parental complaints prompt discussion about O.C. Board of Education’s process for considering petitions from charter schools
Should the perceived political slant of curriculum or a contractor factor into the decision-making process?
- News
New details on building of second gymnasium at Los Alamitos High School
Project's cost are exceeding what was budgeted but district is looking at options for bond-financed facility
- Community
O.C. teacher wins big on Wheel of Fortune
McAuliffe Middle School special education teacher earns nearly $60,000 in episode during 'Teacher's Week' on the TV game show
- News
California students’ 2021-22 standardized test results to be released in October
Supt. warns of potential drop in students’ scores
- Community
Math lesson comes alive with 100x100 In-N-Out burger surprise
Third graders calculate the cost and calorie count of mega meal
- Community
Full Circle Moment at McGaugh Elementary
Connected by a Chair: creation by school board member for teacher's late father part of 'amazing' reunion
- News
Construction to start on new WellSpace at Los Alamitos High School
Los Alamitos Education Foundation to pay to build student wellness center staffed by mental health professionals
- News
Westminster School District starts 2022-23 school year
District also celebrating its 150th anniversary
- News
Public tours STEM Building at LAHS as Officials hold ribbon cutting
Taxpayers get to visit $67 million structure financed by 2018 Measure G bond money
- Civics
Recall effort targeting Los Alamitos USD Board of Education member fails
Proponents were 108 signatures short of what was needed to qualify for ballot
- Politics
Who's Running for School Board in Orange County?
Find candidate statements, websites and more for the people running for school board in O.C.'s 28 school districts.
- News
Los Alamitos High School begins 2022-23 school year
Students start classes in new $67 million STEM building built with bond measure money
- Community
'Backpack Bash' is boost for students at Inglewood school
Seal Beach teacher delivers backpacks filled with school supplies donated at annual party with a purpose
- Civics
So you want to Run For School Board in Orange County?
Deadline to declare candidacy for Nov. 8, 2022 General Election is Friday, August 12
- News
What you need to know about Covid-19 rules for the upcoming 2022-23 School Year
California leaves masks as optional on TK-12 campuses
- Civics
Recall effort against School Board member faces deadline
Group says it’s ‘on track’ to deliver signatures needed to qualify for the ballot
- News
A Future with Fewer Students?
Student enrollment projections presented for the Los Alamitos Unified School District
- Community
Los Alamitos High School Quarterback Malachi Nelson on What's Next
Nelson talks about the upcoming 2022-23 football season, his last as a Griffin
- News
Rethinking homework: New policy emphasizes 'quality over quantity'
The Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education adopted a new homework policy that translates to less homework overall for students.
- Politics
Primary Election results: Incumbents lead in races for Education
California June 7 Primary Election results show incumbents leading in races for education posts.
- Community
LAHS Football Coach says dignity, integrity and grace are primary focus for his student-athletes
Ray Fenton touches on NFL recruitment, a new NCAA policy that could transform high school sports and more in talk at Chamber meeting
- Community
McGaugh's Pageant of the Arts Returns
After two years of cancelled shows due to the pandemic, students were back on stage for the 39th Pageant
- Civics
Los Alamitos USD Deciding how to use Dwindling Bond Dollars
Bond Measure money already spent on new aquatics center and multistory S.T.E.M. building at Los Alamitos High School
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