Manouchehri Set to Lead BHUSD as School Board President

Judy Manouchehri, an elected trustee of the Beverly Hills Unified School District, is set to assume the presidency of the Board of Education, marking a milestone in a tenure rooted in personal history with the district and a platform centered on higher expectations for students, staff, and taxpayers.

Manouchehri was elected to the BHUSD Board of Education in the November 2022 municipal election and has since served in board leadership, including as vice president. She is an alumna of the district and the parent of three BHUSD students, a background she has repeatedly cited as central to her commitment to public education in Beverly Hills.

In remarks prepared for her upcoming address, Manouchehri reflected on her first encounter with district governance decades earlier.

“The first time I ever attended a Board meeting was as a 12 or 13 year old student at Horace Mann… Standing here before you 30 years later still gives me the same sense of butterflies and excitement,” she said.

She described her decision to run for the board as driven by a belief that pride in the district and demands for improvement are not mutually exclusive.

“You can love BHUSD, and expect more from BHUSD, at the same time,” Manouchehri said.

According to her remarks, the board’s recent focus has included cost containment, operational restructuring, and academic improvement. She cited a board decision to reduce more than $1.3 million annually in administrative expenditures, a move she characterized as part of a broader effort to sharpen accountability and redirect resources toward classrooms.

Manouchehri also pointed to leadership changes within the district, including the return of Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss, whose prior experience includes service as a BHUSD educator and as chief financial officer of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. She credited these leadership decisions with helping to set the foundation for the district’s current direction.

Her speech outlined instructional changes implemented during her term as a trustee, including longer instructional days for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students, reductions in early dismissal days, and the introduction of free after-school math and English tutoring for students not meeting grade-level standards. She also referenced the launch of a dual-language Spanish immersion program and expanded enrichment opportunities such as chess and debate.

At the secondary level, Manouchehri highlighted facilities and programmatic developments, including new athletic fields at Beverly Vista Middle School, expanded athletic offerings, and recent upgrades at Beverly Hills High School. These include new tennis courts, a softball field, a performing arts wing, and a restructured career and college counseling program.

Looking ahead, Manouchehri framed her presidency as a continuation rather than a conclusion.

“We didn’t come this far to only come this far,” she said, describing plans for expanded music and athletic programs, additional campus improvements, and the introduction of artificial intelligence programming beginning in upper elementary and middle school grades.

As she prepares to preside over the board in the coming year, Manouchehri emphasized collaboration with fellow trustees, district leadership, and staff.

“It will be my absolute honor to preside as President and work hand in hand with my colleagues… to ensure all which I just mentioned, and more, will happen,” she said.