The Los Angeles Unified School District has named veteran educator Michelle King as its new superintendent.
King, 54, who has been the district's chief deputy superintendent, is the first African-American woman to lead the Los Angeles district, the nation’s second-largest public school system.
“Ms. King has experience as a teacher, administrator and top district leader, and is known for her collaboration with parents, teachers and the community,” School Board President Steve Zimmer said in a news release. “She has committed her life to the achievement of our students.”
A Los Angeles native and product of the school district, King attended Century Park and Windsor Hills Elementary schools and Palms Junior High before graduating from Palisades High School.
She began her career as a science and math teacher at Porter Middle School in Granada Hills. She became the coordinator for the math, science and aerospace magnet at Wright Middle School in Westchester, and subsequently served as assistant principal and principal at Hamilton High School in Cheviot Hills.
King headed the Division of Student Health and Human Services, served as interim chief instructional officer for Secondary Education, and was superintendent of a western and southwestern region of L.A. Unified before being tapped by Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines as his chief of staff. She served as deputy superintendent under Superintendent John Deasy and became chief deputy when Cortines returned to the district in October 2014.