LAUSD superintendent David Brewer has picked four senior executives to assist him in transforming the nation's second largest school district.
The superintendent named Ronni Ephraim as deputy superintendent of Professional Learning, Development and Leadership; Julie Slayton as executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Accountability, Megan Reilly as Chief Financial Officer, and Tony Tortorice as Chief Information Officer. Tortorice is a Long Beach resident.
See the full text of the district's announcement, after the jump.
"These positions are key to transforming our schools so that our
children receive a world-class education," said Superintendent Brewer.
"Each of these individuals is exceptionally qualified and they all bring
broad experience as reformers who will help chart our course as a
world-class District."
As Chief Professional Learning and Development Officer, Dr.
Ephraim will be responsible for augmenting, aligning and implementing a
plan to develop and enhance the skills of teachers, school site and
non-school staff.
A nationally renowned educator and District veteran, Dr. Ephraim
has served as LAUSD's Chief Instructional Officer, Elementary since
2004. During her tenure, she designed, coordinated and implemented the
District's core instructional initiatives Pre-Kindergarten through 5th
grade and K-12 program including language acquisition, arts education,
library and instructional media, textbook services, administrator
leadership development and program improvement. Dr. Ephraim was the
architect of the District's highly successful reading program, Open
Court, that lead to soaring student test scores. Dr. Ephraim also
managed the implementation of Open Court that included significant
professional development for elementary school teachers.
As Executive Director of the District's Office of Strategic
Planning and Accountability, Dr. Slayton will be responsible for
establishing organizational accountability to improve student
achievement. Her responsibilities in this regard will include managing
the creation of the District's strategic plan, accountability system,
and internal and external program evaluation process.
With more than 15 years of experience in education, Dr. Slayton
brings a strong background in research, evaluation and teacher training
to this position. Dr. Slayton joined the LAUSD in 2000, and during her
tenure she has served as Chief Accountability Officer for Instruction
and Chief Educational Research Scientist for the Program Evaluation and
Research Branch.
Megan K. Reilly brings a wealth of experience in governmental
financial administration to the position of Chief Financial Officer.
Reilly has served as the Executive Director of Business Services and
Controller for the Naval Post Graduate School since 1997, where she
directed the financial management program for resources in excess of
$700 million. Her background includes establishing and executing
long-range strategic plans, installing and maintaining internal controls
and operating procedures to enhance efficiency and managing electronic
information systems utilizing the most advanced technologies.
The Chief Financial Officer will partner with other LAUSD
departments to support the District's academic objectives while also
maintaining the appropriate fiduciary roles expected by the District's
taxpayers.
The Superintendent appointed Anthony Tortorice as Chief
Information Officer, responsible for developing and managing long-term
information services initiatives and directing the development and
maintenance of systems, operations and hardware.
Mr. Tortorice served as Chief Information Officer for the Los
Angeles Community College District of Los Angeles where he was the
senior information technology executive for the nine colleges, 2,000
full-time employees and 3,000 part-time faculty and over 130,000
students. Mr. Tortorice was responsible for implementing the
information technology strategy, architecture and standards and
development of administrative information systems.
Notably, Mr. Tortorice led the successful implementation of a
human-resources payroll system using the same technology as LAUSD's new
payroll system. Tortorice's expertise in developing and implementing
this technology will be a great asset as the District seeks to stabilize
its payroll system by the end of 2007.
"As I've said from day one that it is important that I build a
team of individuals who bring the passion, skill and energy required to
transform LAUSD," said Brewer. "I am pleased that this group brings a
combination of continuity and fresh perspective and I am certain that we
will continue to attract the best and the brightest to join our team."
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