The leadership of our nation’s major school systems matters a lot in the education of millions of kids. Yet each transition sets off a deeply counterproductive scramble. It doesn’t need to be that way. The news that Michelle King is stepping aside as superintendent of Los Angeles Unified due to a serious illness is deeply...

On Sunday, Feb. 11, Parent Revolution’s co-founder Shirley Ford passed away. While Los Angeles lost a tireless champion for underserved children, she left behind a living legacy of parent leaders and allies ready to continue her work in this city and across the nation. As we reflect on the qualities needed in LAUSD’s next superintendent, we...

Nowhere in the Los Angeles Unified District are the feelings of parent frustration, anger, and confusion more palpable than in the district’s central parent committees. These are groups of parents elected by their peers in local districts to represent the parent voice and provide feedback to the superintendent and Board of Education. It is here...

While superintendent searches for large school districts typically end with outsiders getting the job, the president of the firm working with LA Unified said the insider chosen, Michelle King, a district veteran of 30 years, was a commendable match. “We spent more time than usual to come up with a profile of the characteristics that the...

Michelle King, the new LA Unified superintendent, is a district “lifer,” having worked all of her professional career in the district as a teacher, principal, magnet coordinator and top administrator. She also is a product of LA Unified, having attended Palisades High School. King, 54, served as senior deputy superintendent of school operations under former...

After meeting five hours today to discuss candidates for the next LAUSD superintendent, the school board adjourned until next Monday with no decision made. The school board members began a closed session at 9 a.m. and returned at 2:15 p.m. to say they will resume the search discussions on Monday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m., with...

The finish line is in view. In all likelihood, by this time next week, LA Unified will have its next superintendent. Just who that will be remains uncertain to the world beyond the seven board members and a few district officials. The process has been moving along at a relatively brisk pace, considering the enormity...

The new year is starting out much as the old year ended, with the LA Unified school board still deliberating on a new superintendent. The board’s conversation is scheduled to continue in another closed session tomorrow —  the seventh devoted to the selection — and an announcement would follow if a vote by the members...

The LA Unified school board dragged in at 9:27 p.m. Friday night, adjourning another closed meeting aimed at finding a new superintendent. After eight hours, they left with nothing to report to the public. The closed session items included the possibility of naming an acting superintendent now that Ramon Cortines is finishing off vacation days prior...

The LA Unified school board is meeting later today in open and closed sessions, and one of the items on the agenda appears to suggest that the members may appoint a temporary superintendent until they decide on a permanent successor to Ramon Cortines. The closed session agenda includes “Unrepresented Employee: Superintendent or Acting/Interim Superintendent of...