Brittany's Story

Empowered people empower people

Brittany understands the value a strong social network and family support system has on education. Brittany recognizes the impact that having these things had on her life and wishes to ensure all BUSD feels the same support.

EaRly family life

Brittany was born to Diane and Ray Lokar and raised in Covina, CA. She was the youngest of three, including brother, Shawn, and sister, Heather. Brittany later gained a stepmom, Shannon, and half-brother, Tyler (who will be starting at ULV in the Fall.
Go Leos!)

Growing up, Brittany excelled as a student and an athlete. She went on to also be a theatre participant and ASB member at Western Christian High School where she graduated with honors. Coming from a family filled with activities, she knows that families are busy and is committed to keeping this in mind when considering how to best engage students, parents, and teachers as empowered stakeholders in our district.

years at university of la verne

Brittany excelled in college as a student-athlete, student leader, and graduated top of her class. Having had a well-rounded educational experience, she is excited to bring the lessons learned to the board.

At the University of La Verne, Brittany majored in Education and minored in Theater while representing the university on the cross-country and track & field teams. Without neglecting her studies, Brittany also competed on the debate team at tournaments throughout the US and abroad, as well as studied theater in the UK for a semester. She presented at the national Alpha Chi Honors Society Convention and graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from the College of Education. She returned to ULV to study Education in the Master’s program where she continued her learning of pedagogy, teaching strategies, and the diverse needs of our students.

Brittany is a proven leader, dedicated community servant, and diligent steward of resources. She brings teaching experience, community education and partnership, and sound decision-making.

professional life

Teaching

In 2010, Brittany began teaching at Western Christian High School in Upland, CA. First as a frequent sub and then as Speech Teacher. Through her years there, Brittany also taught high school entry-level Science, ESL Resource, and started the Debate class and after-school Debate Club. She advised the honors societies, implementing a program for the members to visit the preschool during their lunch hour to lead storytime as well as participate in a teacher service week—ensuring the teachers were seen, recognized, and appreciated for what they do throughout the year. As a teacher, her door was open to students, who regularly spent lunch and after-school times in her classroom. After deciding to leave to raise her babies full-time, she returned for every graduation of “her kids”—the students she taught. As a teacher, she valued communication lines being open between her and parents, for the triumphs and the trials. She will continue to value this same open communication with parents and members of the community as a board member.

Prior to teaching high school, Brittany worked as an SES tutor (“Supplemental Educational Services provided to disadvantaged students”) at various elementary schools in Azusa Unified, through Think Together—a program with the mission of creating equity in education. She was also an instructor at ACI College Prep Institute in Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights—program with the mission to provide students the tools needed to excel in school and get accepted into top-tier universities. These contrasting experiences showed Brittany the need for the community of educators to close the learning gap and continue to support all students to reach their fullest potential as an academic and contributor to their community.

Business Management

While Brittany worked as a full-time high school teacher, she assisted her husband in starting what would become a nationwide law firm. Since the firm was started with less than $1,000, Brittany worked to help grow the firm until employees could be hired. Brittany continues to serve in the capacity of office manager in the winding down of the firm as the Allisons prepare for a pivot in their business enterprises.

Nonprofit

In 2015, Brittany co-founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called the Social Justice Advocacy Project, Inc. Since this time, Brittany has served in the role of Vice President and Director of Operations. In this capacity, Brittany has helped lead the planning, execution, and management of more than 100 community-based programs, including two Truth and Reconciliation programs, pro bono legal clinics, a public debate series and other community workshops and seminars.

Brittany has accomplished much of this with a baby in her arms. She lives her devotion to the value of early childhood education
and will seek to ensure the students of Bonita Unified School District have the same opportunities she works so hard to ensure her own kids have. Brittany is a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a careful manager of resources.

home life

Loving, Inspiring Mother

Brittany spends significant time with her two children, Taly and Tommy. From the time they wake up, until the time they sleep, Brittany personally ensures Taly and Tommy get the love and attention they need—filling the day with arts and crafts, play and imagination time, and outdoor play and physical activity. She is experiencing first hand the wonder in how kids learn—through experiencing and exploring, through observing effective modeling and being empowered to process at their own pace.

Devoted, Caring Wife

Brittany and her husband share a partnership in practically every sense of the word. Thomas, Brittany's husband, considers Brittany the backbone of the Allison operation. Aside from work, the two spend most of their free time together playing with their kids, watching shows, and sneaking out for the occasional date night.

Steward of Resources

In addition to being an active community servant, mother and wife, Brittany juggles managing the affairs of the Allison household. Brittany has made sure resources are where they need to be as she and Thomas experienced the ebbs-and-flows of entrepreneurial life. When time and resources are not limitless, it is important to be both creative and determined enough to continue to meet a standard of excellence. Brittany tirelessly pursues this, oftentimes with a baby on her hip.