Maria Ott’s 41-year career as an educator has
taken her from the classroom to the chief administrator’s office. And
it is the former that she says has shaped her.

“Work at the classroom level is the most important work that
we do,” she said. “The experience of the classroom has always stayed
with me.”

Ott, 64, announced plans last week to retire as superintendent
of the 16,000-student Rowland Unified School District, which operates
20 elementary and secondary schools in the cities of Rowland Heights,
Walnut, La Puente, Industry and West Covina.

She has accepted a position as executive in residence at USC,
where she will teach a graduate level course and work with the school of
education on projects, Ott said

Read more in Peter Fullam’s story OTT.