Michelle King, L.A.’s 1st Black Female Superintendent and a Champion of Unity, Dies of Cancer at Age 57
Michelle King, the pioneering African-American woman who served as the first female superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, passed away at the age of 57 after a battle with cancer.
In a statement released by the district, King was described as a collaborative and innovative leader who worked tirelessly to provide equal opportunities for every student. Just weeks after assuming her position in January 2016, King expressed her desire to promote the sharing of best educational practices among all types of public schools. She wanted to bridge the gap between traditional district schools, independent charter schools, and innovative magnet and pilot schools.
During a town hall meeting, King emphasized the importance of unity amongst all students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, stating that labels and comparisons between schools were counterproductive. She expressed the need for educators to come together and break down barriers to benefit the children, seeking collaboration with charter school leaders to organize a forum for idea sharing.
In a matter of months, King’s "Promising Practices" forum received widespread praise and admiration from charter school leaders, affirming the impact she was making as superintendent. Caprice Young, who was the CEO of Magnolia Public Schools and a former L.A. Unified school board member, commended King for fostering a cooperative learning environment.
Despite the positive reception, King’s tenure as superintendent was unfortunately cut short due to a cancer diagnosis. She announced her retirement at the end of the 2017-18 school year and took medical leave in September 2017 after experiencing weakness during a long school board meeting.
In an interview before her retirement, King described herself as someone who had dedicated her entire career to the Los Angeles Unified School District, having attended its schools and even worked as a teacher’s aide when she was a student. She aspired to be a role model for students who looked like her and emphasized that her path to superintendent was not something she had initially planned.
King’s upbringing in a predominantly African-American middle-class neighborhood in South Los Angeles and her experiences as a student at Pacific Palisades High School shaped her commitment to the district. After graduating from UCLA with a major in biology, she began her teaching career at Porter Middle School in Granada Hills. She subsequently held various administrative positions in different schools within the district, gradually climbing the ranks.
As her career progressed, many people inquired if she had ever considered becoming superintendent. It wasn’t until her daughters graduated that she seriously contemplated the position. However, she never imagined that she would eventually hold the highest position in the district.
During her first year as superintendent, King embarked on a "listen and learn" tour, visiting approximately 100 schools to gather insights from students, teachers, and parents. Her genuine interest in the experiences of those within the school community earned her widespread admiration and created a sense of trust among educators.
King’s passion for unity, collaboration, and equitable education for all students will be remembered as her enduring legacy. Her untimely passing has left many saddened by the knowledge that she was unable to make an even greater impact during her time as superintendent.
The schools’ programs were duplicated at two other locations. In the previous fall, University Pathways Public Service Academy and University Pathways Medical Magnet Academy collectively admitted nearly 200 students.
Castrejón stated that replicating high-performing schools on such a large scale had never been attempted before, neither in Los Angeles nor anywhere else in the country. She mentioned that the grants became a possibility after she and the Great Schools staff collaborated with King in an open and cooperative process.
When the grants were announced, King expressed her enthusiasm about the opportunities to provide more high-quality choices for families in the L.A. Unified School District. She believed that investing in these campuses would enable more students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college, careers, and life.
Castrejón, who currently serves as the president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association, released a statement on Saturday, expressing her admiration for Michelle King. She described King as a visionary leader who supported the replication of innovative schools and was dedicated to finding new approaches to meet the unique needs of each student. Castrejón commended King’s thoughtfulness and commitment to collaboration as a crucial pathway towards expanding opportunities for all children.
In a 2016 interview, King acknowledged the importance of bringing people together and fostering dialogue to break down walls and barriers. She recognized that certain positions may seem unavailable to individuals, especially young people and minorities, due to the lack of role models in those roles. However, King believed that her appointment as a leader was a testament to the idea that anything is possible, particularly for young women.
At the conclusion of her first community meeting in March 2016, King emphasized the importance of unity and expressed her dedication to the well-being of the Los Angeles Unified School District. She displayed her passion for the district by wearing an "I love LAUSD" button.
The interviews and reporting for this article were conducted by Sarah Favot and Mike Szymanski.
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