How L.A.'s Gabriella Charter School Founder Turned Family Tragedy Into a Legacy
After more than 20 years, 10,000 students, and countless lives changed, Liza Bercovici stepped down last year as executive director of Gabriella Charter Schools — a network she built from heartbreak.
In 1999, Bercovici lost her daughter Gabriella, 13, in a tragic bike accident while the family was on vacation in Grand Teton National Park. It was a moment that shattered her world.
'I don't want to pretend that I wasn't in a downward spiral, because I was,' said Bercovici, a Los Angeles native who entered UCLA at 16 and later transferred to UC Berkeley, where she graduated in 1972. 'Gabri was my closest friend, we were very, very close. And just to lose her, I felt like my life had come to an end.'
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A practicing lawyer at the time, it took Bercovici awhile to find her footing again. She was navigating unimaginable grief.
She credits close friends, family, and the support of her community with helping her begin to heal. One friend shared a newspaper article about an inner-city dance program in Santa Ana. That moment lit a spark.
She decided to leave her legal practice, dedicating herself to building a nonprofit rooted in dance. What began as a small after-school program quickly grew. Over the next five years, the program added 200 weekly classes, reaching 2,000 children across six inner-city sites in and around Echo Park, MacArthur Park and Lafayette Park.
At age 52, Bercovici took a leap: she opened Gabriella Charter School in 2005, creating an innovative educational model grounded in the arts.
Nearly two decades later, her work is being recognized. Bercovici was named the 2025 recipient of the Don Shalvey Legacy Award, an honor that recognizes leaders driving innovation and equity in public education.
The award is named after California's first charter school founder, Don Shalvey, who opened the state's first charter school, San Carlos Charter Learning Center, in 1994.
Still, as Bercovici celebrates her school's success, she remains clear-eyed about the challenges facing the charter movement today.
'The biggest problems confronting charter schools and all schools right now is the drop in enrollment and the impact of the pandemic on academics and as well as children's mental health and behavior,' Bercovici said.
Gabriella Charter Schools, like many others across the state, are navigating declining enrollment and a more hostile policy environment.
Today, Gabriella Charter Schools serve approximately 800 students across two campuses. Nearly all students are students of color in grades K-8. At Gabriella Charter School 1, nearly 90% of students are classified as low-income, foster youth, or English learners; at Gabriella Charter School 2, that number is closer to 99%.
But this is only part of the story. At Gabriella, every student also learns to dance — a cornerstone of Bercovici's vision from day one.
'Most charters have a theme or an orientation,' Bercovici said. 'And I figured, hey, I've learned about dance and how great it is for kids, so why don't we make a dance theme?'
After retiring in June 2023, Bercovici stayed involved by launching a Friends of Gabriella board, which now supports the school with fundraising and outreach efforts.
While some recent federal education policies under the Trump administration have brought new scrutiny to charter schools, Bercovici said the practical impact remains limited, at least for now.
'Only a small portion of what the schools receive [comes from the federal government],' Bercovici said. 'Most money comes from the state. So based on my understanding, funding streams have not been cut off.'
Looking ahead, Bercovici said she plans to continue supporting her school and community. Her deepest joy, she said, comes from being around the students she helped shape.
'What makes me happiest and proudest is when I'm around our kids and our alumni.'
Her advice to others facing loss or uncertainty?
'One step a day,' Bercovici said. 'You just have to keep moving forward and doing the best you can with what you've got, and continue to reach out to your community of family and friends.'
This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
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