News Summary
The Culver City Unified School District Board has chosen Dr. Alfonso Jiménez as the leading candidate for superintendent. Known for his impactful leadership in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Dr. Jiménez has a rich background in education and numerous accolades. The community eagerly awaits the board’s final approval of his contract, set for discussion soon. His dedication to equity and innovation, along with bilingual skills, aligns well with the diverse needs of Culver City.
Culver City Welcomes a New Superintendent Candidate
Exciting news is buzzing around Culver City as the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) Board of Education has officially picked Dr. Alfonso Jiménez as their top candidate for the role of superintendent. This decision has sparked conversations and anticipation within the community, as the board hammers out the final details of Dr. Jiménez’s contract.
A Proven Leader
Dr. Jiménez currently serves as the superhero-like leader of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (HLPUSD), which is located in the City of Industry. Under his guidance, this school district serves a whopping 15,480 students across 27 schools, making it a significant player in the educational landscape. HLPUSD is known for having the second-largest adult school in California, boasting three campuses for over 12,000 adult learners.
His impactful leadership has certainly not gone unnoticed; in 2025, HLPUSD was recognized as a District of Distinction for new teaching methods aiming for deep learning. Moreover, six out of seven middle schools in HLPUSD have been classified as “Schools to Watch” covering the period from 2022 to 2025 by the California League of Middle Schools. In 2023, the district also bagged four National Blue Ribbon Schools awards from the U.S. Department of Education; this made it the most awarded district in both the state and the nation that year.
A Rich Background in Education
Dr. Jiménez isn’t new to the field of education. He actually began his career as a teacher in Long Beach and has climbed the ranks through various administrative positions. His resume includes stints as an assistant principal across various elementary and middle schools in Bellflower and leading Woodcrest Elementary in Fullerton as principal. His journey also led him to academic administration roles in Anaheim and Lynwood before he took on the enormous responsibility of Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services in Santa Ana—home to over 40,000 students—the second largest district in Orange County.
With an impressive collection of accolades under his belt, Dr. Jiménez has been celebrated multiple times. He received the “Superintendent to Watch” award in 2022 from the National School Public Relations Association and was acknowledged as “Superintendent of the Year” in the same year by UC Davis C-STEM. In 2023, he was recognized again as the “Superintendent of the Year, Region V” by the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators.
Community Focus and Personal Touch
CCUSD Board President Triston Ezidore highlighted Dr. Jiménez’s impressive 29 years of experience in public education, underlining his dedication to instructional excellence, equity, and innovation. Dr. Jiménez is also a bilingual leader fluent in Spanish, which aligns perfectly with the diverse makeup of the Culver City community.
Expressing his excitement about the potential appointment, Dr. Jiménez thanked the Board of Education for choosing him as the sole finalist pending approval. Beyond his professional life, he’s married to an elementary school teacher and they have three children—two who have already graduated from college and one currently in middle school. Dr. Jiménez’s roots run deep in Long Beach, and he now lives in the southeast San Gabriel Valley area. His family history includes immigrant parents; his father once worked as a migrant farm worker under the Bracero program.
A Man of Many Interests
When he’s not shaping the minds of future generations, Dr. Jiménez enjoys traveling, reading, diving into genealogy, listening to music, and catching the latest movies. His academic credentials are as impressive as his career: he holds a B.S. in Zoology-Physiology from California State University, Long Beach, an M.S. in Administration from Pepperdine University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.
What’s Next?
The CCUSD Board is looking to finalize Dr. Jiménez’s employment contract at its upcoming regular meeting scheduled for June 24, 2025. If everything goes smoothly and the contract is approved, he is set to officially take the reins as CCUSD superintendent starting July 1, 2025.
With all these points considered, it’s no wonder the community is buzzing with excitement about what Dr. Jiménez could bring to Culver City’s educational landscape!
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Additional Resources
- Culver City Crossroads
- Wikipedia: Superintendent
- Culver City Crossroads – CCUSD Board Meeting
- Google Search: superintendent leadership
- Culver City Crossroads – CCUSD Initiatives
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Educational Leadership
- Culver City Crossroads – Community Reaction
- Google News: education leadership
