Investigator Biography - Vito De Bellis

Vito De Bellis retired from Los Angeles Unified School District in 2006 as Regional Director of School Operations and Safety. In this capacity he managed all school violence, crisis, and student discipline issues, both from an operational and mental health perspective. During his thirty-three years with LAUSD, Vito served in many capacities including teacher, counselor, discipline Dean, assistant principal of counseling services, discipline consultant, and chief presiding officer in a student expulsion hearing.

Vito has extensive knowledge and experience in investigating student misconduct as well as an unsurpassed understanding of the relationship between the California educational and penal codes as they apply to student discipline issues. His close work with many public and law enforcement agencies have allowed him to coordinate the LAPD’s undercover high school drug enforcement program at the school district level. Among his achievements Vito was selected to represent LAUSD on a committee sponsored by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office to create a best practices instructional manual on the recognition, prevention, intervention and postvention of child abuse. The manual received high acclaim and is used throughout the state by pubic and private agencies. As Director of School Operations and Safety, Mr. De Bellis and two colleagues were assigned to rewrite the LAUSD’s Safe School Plan in response to California Education Code mandates. Additionally, Vito developed and taught district wide courses on student discipline issues in LAUSD’s Administration Academy.

Vito attended the University of Southern California on a George Mayr academic scholarship. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also holds a master’s degree in education administration with an emphasis in school law and a California state credential in school psychology. Vito has been adjunct professor at several university graduate schools in the Los Angeles area. Currently, he lectures in UCLA’s extension program.

Mr. De Bellis is uniquely qualified to investigate and advocate for students in all cases and at all levels of alleged student misconduct.

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