We sat down with Debe Loxton, the former LA’s BEST Chief Operating Officer and the most recent Beyond the Bell Executive Director.
As a founding leader of LA’s BEST and a trailblazer in expanded learning, Debe Loxton has been with us since the beginning. Before her retirement, we sat down with Debe to reflect on her journey from the early days of LA’s BEST to leading Beyond the Bell and to hear her hopes for the future of this work. What follows is a conversation about impact, leadership, and planting seeds for what’s to come.
Q: What long-term impact do you think LA’s BEST has had on our communities?
Debe: Honestly, sometimes the impact isn’t something you can measure; it’s something you feel. LA’s BEST has always had a deep commitment to belonging, to creating space for kids to grow and be seen.
One of the most meaningful long-term effects is that many of our current staff were once students of LA’s BEST. That full-circle journey, that’s the longitudinal impact.
I remember during my first interview for LA’s BEST, someone asked me what my goal was. I said I didn’t want to change schools, I wanted to change communities. That’s what LA’s BEST does. It shifts the dynamic. When a student sees their coach at the market, at church, in their neighborhood, that’s powerful. It shows kids that people in their own community are investing in their future.
Q: Is there a story or individual that’s stayed with you over the years?
Debe: It’s impossible to pick just one. What I’ve learned is that LA’s BEST creates the conditions for stories to happen. Every time a student grows, every time a staff member has that moment where something clicks, that’s the work.
We might not always know the final outcome of someone’s journey, but the thread runs deep. Those individual moments, semester by semester, year by year, are what make up the fabric of LA’s BEST. It’s not about one big success story. It’s the hundreds of small steps that turn into something meaningful.
Q: What have you learned about building strong partnerships, especially with LAUSD, Beyond the Bell, and the City?
Debe: Partnerships are hard. They don’t live on paper; they live between people. And they’re built on trust; earned trust.
As a leader, your job is to do what you say you’re going to do, hold yourself to high integrity, and focus on what really matters: how this helps kids. People come with ideas and funding models, but you have to protect your program’s integrity.
Not every idea is a fit. You need to know your model, what you do, what you won’t compromise on, and where your values are. True collaboration happens when everyone is moving in the same direction.
Q: What role has collaboration played in LA’s BEST’s growth and resilience?
Debe: Carla Sanger was the master of collaboration. She could get people into a room and aligned in minutes because she had such a clear passion for our students and communities.
Collaboration works best when it’s grounded in shared values. It’s not about agreeing with everything, it’s about ensuring that what you’re doing serves kids. If you stay rooted in that, partnerships happen more organically.
Q: As you prepare for retirement, what are your hopes for the future of afterschool and expanded learning?
Debe: I hope it just keeps getting better. That we keep students safe and continue to create spaces where they can thrive and explore their curiosity.
Expanded learning helps kids build relationships, life skills, and academic confidence; it’s a whole-child model. I want to see LA’s BEST continue to grow and deepen that impact. The only limit is when people stop dreaming about what’s possible.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge ahead?
Debe: Fundraising is always tough. It takes the right partners and clear expectations, so both sides know what is being invested in and what outcomes are expected.
We also get stuck thinking that everything is either-or, but most of the time, the answer is both. The key is knowing what you’re solving for. When you can answer that question, you can find the path that serves kids best.
Q: What message would you leave for the next generation of leaders in expanded learning?
Debe: Everything changes. Everything is connected. So pay attention.
We’re always looking toward the horizon, but we forget that the real moments, the powerful ones, are right in front of us. Every hallway conversation, every interaction with a student, a principal, or a custodian —every interaction matters.
Also, this work has to be a calling. It can’t just be a job. Our students deserve people who are genuinely here because they want to be. If you’re not doing what you’re meant to do, go find what brings you joy. You’re doing a disservice to yourself and your soul if you don’t.
Q: You used to end events with a quote that stuck with me. I think it was about planting seeds. Do you remember it?
Debe: Yes. I believe it’s attributed to Jennifer Granholm. It goes something like:
“Leadership is about planting seeds of a tree whose shade you may never sit under.”
That’s what this work is. We’re planting and watering seeds that may flourish long after we’re gone, but they’ll still serve their purpose.
Q: What does this next chapter mean for you personally? Will you stay connected to the work?
Debe: Absolutely. I’ll always be connected to expanded learning, just not in a formal role. My house burned in the Eaton Fire, so I’ll be rebuilding from scratch: a new home, a fresh start, kind of like what we did with LA’s BEST. I’ve given people my number. If anyone calls, I’m happy to provide support, volunteer, or offer consultation. I just don’t want a job anymore. But I’ll always say yes to helping. That part of my heart isn’t going anywhere.
Thank you, Debe.
Your leadership helped build the foundation of LA’s BEST and shaped how we continue to grow. The values you championed, like consistency, care, and a deep belief in young people, remain central to our work.
We’re grateful for the path you’ve paved and the clarity you’ve brought to this field. Your impact lives on in every student, staff member, and school you’ve helped strengthen.
