Ellen Dougherty will replace outgoing Superintendent Joe Condon, who has headed the Lawndale School District for 17 years.
The choice of Dougherty, who is currently assistant superintendent of educational services for the 6,200-student district, was announced at a board meeting Tuesday night. Her new position will become official at the next board meeting on July 13.
Dougherty came to Lawndale last summer after 21 years in the South Pasadena Unified School District. She said she was seeking a "strong superintendent" to learn from.
"I came down thinking I'd have a few years to learn from Joe," she said, laughing. "I fell in love with the community."
Condon said he was confident his successor would do a good job in the largely Latino district, which has seven elementary and two middle school campuses.
"She's got wonderful people skills. She's smart as a whip and she understands the culture of the organization. She'll be just fine," he said.
Note: Dougherty pronounces her last name "DOCK-ur-dee," a pronunciation that she said comes from her native Central Pennsylvania.
The district's press release follows.
Lawndale Elementary School District
SUPERINTENDENT SELECTION PROCESS UPDATE
July 1, 2009
The Governing Board of the Lawndale Elementary School District has selected Dr. Ellen Dougherty as its next Superintendent of Schools. Trustee Ann Phillips, President of the Board, announced the decision and explained that it will be finalized with the approval of Dr. Dougherty's new contract at a board meeting, the date of which has not been determined.
Mrs. Phillips said of Dr. Dougherty's selection, "The Board was unanimous in its selection of Ellen as our next superintendent. At the start of the search, our consultant met with Board Members, staff, parents and community members to gather views on the criteria we should seek in our next superintendent. Ellen meets those criteria and has an excellent record as an educator."
Dr. Dougherty is presently the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in the Lawndale Elementary School District. She came to Lawndale, from the position of Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services for South Pasadena Unified School District.
Prior to her work as an assistant superintendent, Dr. Dougherty was a principal and teacher at the elementary level and received the South Pasadena Teacher of the Year Award. She was also a LA County Teacher of the Year Finalist. Dr. Dougherty received a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of LaVerne, doing thesis work on the development of professional learning communities as a means of improving student achievement. Building on her interest in teacher collaboration, Dr. Dougherty was involved with the Annenberg Project for School Reform both as a Critical Friends coach and as a mentor to other coaches. She has taught graduate classes in educational leadership at Cal State Los Angeles, has spoken at national educational conferences, and has served as a consultant in team building and systems thinking for various school districts. Dr. Dougherty has also served as a regional president of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and has received the ACSA Leadership Award.
Dr. Dougherty is married to Dr. Dennis Dougherty, a professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). They have two adult daughters, Meghan and Kayla.
Dr. Dougherty commented, "I am very excited to have the opportunity to assume the duties of Superintendent of the Lawndale School District. The District has such a rich culture, amazingly skilled and dedicated employees, and a wonderful community. Although we have many challenges ahead in these difficult times, I know that we will meet the them well under the leadership of the Board of Trustees. I am honored to be selected to serve the Lawndale community as Superintendent."
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