Board Member
Jon Lauritzen

Jon Lauritzen is a lifelong Valley school teacher, education reformer and neighborhood leader who has dedicated his life to improving the quality of education for Valley children.

The son of a rancher/author and elementary school teacher, the Lauritzen family came to the San Fernando Valley in 1954.  Jon graduated from Canoga Park High School and went on to earn his Bachelors Degree from Cal State University Northridge.  He would later return to CSUN for a Master's Degree in Education and teaching credential.  Upon graduation, Jon enlisted in the U.S. Army.  After basic training at Ft. Ord, California, Jon applied and was accepted into the Officer Candidate School at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and was commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant upon graduation.

When he left the service, Jon returned home to the Valley and settled down with his wife Janice.  After he completed his student teaching assignments at hale Middle School and Granada Hills High School, Jon found a permanent position to teach at Columbus Middle School in West Hills.  Janice Lauritzen, also a teacher, worked nearby at Sutter Middle School and Cleveland High School.

Jon and Janice have been blessed with two wonderful children, Eric and Ridi, both graduates of Chatsworth High School.  Their daughter Ridi is now a science teacher at Lawrence Middle School carrying on the Lauritzen tradition to a new generation.

Jon spent 17 years as a Math and Computer Science teacher at Columbus before transferring to Canoga Park High School.  He was responsible for writing and developing courses in computers for both faculty and students.

Jon Lauritzen is a life member of the Santa Susanna Mountain Park Association where he has been a supporter of the establishment and expansion of the new State Park in the area.  Jon has become a recent board member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susanna Mountains, and he is active in the Chatsworth Historical Society.

Jon is Co-Chair of the Chatsworth Coordinating Council, which is an umbrella organization for community concerns and activities.  When the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment established guidelines for neighborhood councils, Jon became Co-Chair, joining with others to organize the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council.

Jon is currently District Director of the "We the People" program of the Center for civic Education, which provides textbooks for students and training for teachers.