Education expert to helm Pretend City

Pretend City Children’s Museum has hired educational equity expert Ellen Pais as the new executive director.

Pretend City Children’s Museum has hired educational equity expert Ellen Pais as the new executive director.

Pais was recently the CEO of the Los Angeles Education Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational equity by offering programs such as building school readiness in children age 5 and younger.

As Pretend City’s executive director, Pais will develop and maintain community and business relationships while working in tandem with the board of directors to provide direction for the children’s museum.

Pretend City, which opened in 2009, is a kid-sized “city” that lets children play different roles and learn how a community works.

To learn more about Pretend City, visit pretendcity.org.


  • Global AI hub

    Stuart McClure, co-founder of cybersecurity firm Cylance, helped Irvine take a leadership position in artificial intelligence.

  • Terran Orbital acquired for $450M

    Terran Orbital, the world’s leading provider of nanosatellites and microsatellites, with major operations in Irvine, is set to embark on …

  • Electric air travel

    Irvine-based Supernal is creating the future of air mobility, a high-tech helicopter hybrid for transporting people.

  • Entrepreneurial spirit

    From his Irvine Spectrum District office, Anthony Katz turned a homemade ice pack into a $700 million company.