Michelle King, Ed.D., former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent, and friend of Loyola Marymount University, died from cancer on Saturday, Feb. 2.
Michelle King – the first African American woman to lead the district – received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from LMU and delivered the LMU graduate commencement address in May 2017.
King was appointed as superintendent of California’s largest and the nation’s second-largest school district in January 2016, serving more than 700,000 students, 26,000 teachers and 33,000 employees with an annual budget of over $7 billion.
A veteran educator and alumna of LAUSD schools, King led the district after a nearly 30-year career, which she began as a teacher’s aide in 1978. She has also worked as an LAUSD teacher, coordinator, assistant principal, principal, and chief deputy superintendent.
“Michelle King was an incredible educator and leader who dedicated herself to helping all LAUSD students realize their full potential, and whose legacy will be felt for generations to come,” said School of Education Interim Dean Mary K. McCullough. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the King family.”
