About

Karen Tamis is the parent of three children in South Pasadena Schools. She has deep experience in public policy, local schools, and in South Pasadena local government. Throughout her career, she has proven to be a forward-looking problem solver with a firm foundation in policy.

With children in the elementary, middle, and high school she has a unique perspective on how to better coordinate and improve our cherished local schools. From her time developing and implementing public school literacy programs to her current role as a senior policy consultant in Justice Reform for Los Angeles County, she has a proven record of turning ideas and policies into reality.

A South Pasadena resident, Karen currently serves on the SP Parks & Recreation Commission, the Marengo School Site Council, the PTA and the AYSO Executive Board. Before moving to South Pasadena, she served on the Pasadena Education Network Board, Hamilton Elementary School Site Council, and preschool board – and also represented children and families throughout LA County in education law.

Her priorities are the issues that would really help families and students - expanding affordable childcare options for families, strengthening mental health supports, easing the transition to middle and high school, and expanding secondary language instruction.

Previously, Karen spent a decade at the Vera Institute of Justice leading intensive and multi-site justice reform initiatives. She served as the Los Angeles-based site manager for the Department of Labor’s High Poverty High Crime Youth Futures initiative designed to help kids move from the streets into the workforce. Karen was also a Skadden Fellow in the Education Advocacy Project of the Disability Rights Legal Center, where she represented youth with special education needs. Karen Tamis holds a BA from Cornell University and a JD from the UCLA School of Law’s Program in Public Interest Law and Policy.