Bios

Hon. Howard A. Goldstein, Esq., is a former Governing Board Member of the Beverly Hills Unified School District.  Professionally, he is a civil trial and appellate attorney, representing plaintiffs in class action matters. Howard is admitted to practice in California and before the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

In addition to serving twice as Board President, Howard served the community as the former Horace Mann PTA President, receiving the National PTA Life Achievement Award. This award is the highest recognition bestowed by the National PTA and is given to those that have demonstrated exemplary service in support of children. 

His years of service to the community includes the District’s Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee, Facilities Planning Committee, Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, Beverly Hills PTA Council, Next 100 Years Committee, and Beverly Hills Education Foundation. Howard has also served on the City’s Southeast Task Force.

Howard attended Beverly Vista School and is married to an educator, Juliet (BHHS ’83).  They have two sons that both attended BHUSD K-12, Gabe (BHHS ’17) and Ian (BHHS ’21).

DONNA TRYFMAN 

Donna Tryfman has served as a Senior Trial Attorney IV with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office since 1998. The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office is the largest, oldest and most innovative indigent criminal defense firm in the world. Donna is admitted to practice in all Federal and State Courts in California. As a trial attorney, Donna masters the courtroom, and has conducted over 100 trials representing some of the most complex and difficult issues contemplated within capital/special circumstance litigation, homicides, and sex offenses, to name a few. She also has extensive experience handling juvenile adjudications and transfer hearings. Donna’s legal defense philosophy focuses on a holistic defense with a heavy emphasis on alternative sentencing and full service partnerships, concentrating on collaboration with all justice stakeholders.

Donna’s managerial experience includes appointment as the Deputy in Charge of the Eastlake Juvenile Court and Hall, President of the Public Defender’s Association since 2016, and Committee member of the office Racial Justice Committee. Complementing Donna’s full-time employment and immersion in her role as a full-time criminal defense attorney, she was recently appointed as a Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Committee. Donna enjoys working with her fellow commissioners on real-world/real-time issues involving the Beverly Hills community and its housing stock. She serves as a neutral on a committee with landlords and tenants where her fairness and sense of reason is often recognized. 

Donna is a graduate of Horace Mann, ’81, Beverly Hills High School, ’85, Brandeis University, ’89, and University of La Verne School of Law, ’94. Donna’s community and public service includes her appointment by the Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges as a Judge Pro Temp, Board member for the Los Angeles County Bar Association Judicial Election Evaluation Committee (JEEC), Proctor for the Los Angeles County Superior Court Teen Court program at Dorsey High School (since 2016), and currently, a Member of the Facilities and Construction Committee for the Beverly Hills Unified School District. Donna is excited to implement community vision for the district facilities with an eye towards extending viability responsibly for future generations.