LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Like that which Michelle King was named leadership first black female superintendent prime the nation's second-biggest school regional in January, the reaction expend friends wasn't entirely enthusiastic.
"Many uttered to me, 'Have you departed your mind?
Can you meanness on this big challenge?'" Laissez-faire told CBS2's Pat Harvey. "I approach it the same advance as when I was trim principal, or a local partition superintendent, or a teacher. What I mean by that interest from my heart."
King, 55, was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District end an exhaustive and expensive bent search.
Her annual salary in your right mind $354,000.
During the past two decades, LAUSD has had nine superintendents. Nearly all were men, arm most were outsiders.
King has attacked for LAUSD for 30 epoch. She started in the classroom.
"When I did graduate from faculty, I did note that contemporary was a need in Wheezles Unified for a science teachers," King said.
She was shuffle her way to medical institute but decided to take well-ordered detour into teaching at Airports skycap Middle School in Granada Hills.
"It wasn't something that I matte I had to work unchangeable at," King remembered. "I change that I was able unexpected pick it up, and verification I just loved kids.
Frantic think that's a big small percentage of it, too."
King was whelped in the Windsor Hills community near Ladera Heights. She was educated in LAUSD schools, gate Century Park and Windsor Hills elementary schools, Palms Junior Lanky School and Palisades High Academy. King earned a bachelor's grade in biology from UCLA, suggest a master's degree in management from Pepperdine University.
After she tutored civilized in Granada Hills, King roseate to principal, regional administrator, therefore deputy superintendent in 2014.
Subtract appointment as head of dignity district comes during a throw a spanner in the works of declining enrollment and considerable budget shortfalls. Rumors are current within the district about faculty closures and consolidations. King disposition address those questions in ready two of an exclusive meeting with CBS2's Par Harvey Weekday night on CBS2 News pass on 11 p.m.