Culver City Observer -

Elaine Behnken has been elected president and Monika Okker vice president of the Culver City Education Foundation board of directors. Behnken and Okker were elected by the CCEF's 14-member board in June to serve for the 2020-21 school year.

Behnken is the parent of a Culver City High School graduate and the wife of Howard Behnken, technical theater teacher at CCHS. She served as president of the CCHS Academy of Visual and Performing Arts in 2014-16, was a member of the original "Friends of the Frost" committee, and co-produced the Frost Auditorium Grand Reopening Gala. Behnken was also a founding parent producer of the CCMS Improv program. For the past 19 years, Behnken has worked as the Executive Producer at GARTNER, an award winning commercial production company.

Monika Okker is the mother of a Culver City High School student and is currently treasurer of the Culver City Council PTA. Okker has a long history of volunteering in the schools as well as in the community through the Girl Scouts and Backpacks for Kids programs, and was recognized as La Ballona's Volunteer of the Year in 2013. Okker has worked in sales and financial roles at Sony Pictures over the last 13 years.

Behnken succeeds Beth Stewart, who served as President for three years and will now serve as CCEF secretary. Todd Shays will continue as treasurer.

"The Culver City Unified School District faces a challenging year ahead, with the ever-changing unknowns due to COVID-19 and ongoing issues with limited state funding. I look forward to working with our staff leadership, Superintendent Leslie Lockhart and the CCUSD community to ensure we have a safe and effective learning environment," Behnken said.