Wave Staff Report
CULVER CITY — The Culver City school board has narrowed the national search for a new superintendent to two finalists to replace Leslie Lockhart, who announced her retirement from the district earlier this year after 23 years with the district, the last four as superintendent.
The two finalists are Quoc Tran, the assistant superintendent of educational services at Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose; and Alfredo Ortiz, the local district west community of schools administrator for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Tran has previously served as associate superintendent at Soledad Unified and Alisal Union school districts in Monterey County. He holds an electrical engineering degree from Cal State Los Angeles and has taught fourth and fifth grade, bilingual (Vietnamese) mathematics and science at the high school levels in Los Angeles.
Tran is bilingual and bi-literate in Vietnamese, and has earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Cal State L.A. As an adjunct professor at Claremont Graduate University, he was a co-recipient of a U.S. Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad Scholarship, where he co-led a team of 12 future teachers on a six-week immersive study trip to Vietnam.
In addition to teaching and his engineering background, he has experience as a director in the areas of English learner services, equity programs, multi-tiered system of support, curriculum and instruction, research, data analysis and assessments, state and federal projects, and public information and communication.
“Should an opportunity to serve as the next superintendent of Culver City Unified School District be granted, I would be honored to bring my passion and commitment to achieve the beauty and strength of the diversity that we are, the inclusion that we practice, and the equity outcome that we create for all students,” Tran said.”
Ortiz has worked in education since 1989, serving as a classroom teacher, Title I and bilingual coordinator, assistant principal, principal, instructional specialist, director of elementary schools, community of schools administrator, and director of dual language programs.
He also has consulted for the Los Angeles County Office of Bilingual Education and publishing companies around curriculum design and professional development.
A product of the Los Angeles Unified School District, he attended Hoover Elementary School, Berendo Junior High School and Manual Arts High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Whittier College and his master’s degree in educational leadership from Cal State L.A.
“While I am originally from Central America, I consider myself an Angeleno through and through,” Ortiz said. “I arrived in Los Angeles in 1975 and have made it my home since.
“Growing up as an English learner had a profound influence on my educational trajectory and the work I have focused on as an educator. I am passionate about providing all our students, regardless of color, ability, socio-economic status, or place of origin, with access to equitable, quality instructional programs.
“Like the city that cradles it, Culver City Unified School District represents the best of what California has to offer — diversity, culture, and community pride. It would be an honor to be associated with the Culver City community and serve the students and stakeholders of CCUSD.”
