Meet Darrel Menthe

Darrel Menthe learned what student-centered leadership looks like from a principal he admired — his mother.

As an educator who rose to become a superintendent, she passed on to Darrel a profound love for learning and commitment for connecting students to opportunities to succeed.

Darrel is running for Culver City School Board to restore confidence in our schools and ensure every student has the resources they need to strive for excellence.

A proud parent of two Culver City high school students and the Executive Director of the Culver City Downtown Business Association, Darrel will bring his deep knowledge of our business community and his experience building coalitions to champion academic excellence and create schools that foster the talents of all our kids.

After earning degrees from UC San Diego, Stanford Law School, and UCLA, Darrel began his career as a lawyer. But something was missing. The work left him feeling disconnected from his community—so he left “big law” behind to serve the city he loved.

That service was tested during the darkest days of the pandemic, when Culver City's Downtown faced an existential threat. As a volunteer leader with the Culver City Downtown Business Association, Darrel spearheaded the outdoor dining program that kept our small businesses alive. The result? Culver City didn't lose a single restaurant.

Now, as Executive Director, Darrel has built the community connections that make Culver City special—High School Senior Day, where local businesses celebrate our graduates, beloved holiday programs, and year-round celebrations that bring neighbors together.

When School Board members voted to eliminate English honors classes, it hit home. Not just for his own children, but for every student who wants a chance to excel. Combined with financial setbacks at the school district, Darrel knew it was time to step up again.