Carolee Ogata

Assistant Superintendent, HBUHSD
School of Education

April 1, 2013

“My hope for the future is to continue to furnish our schools with the most effective personnel for our students.”

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
― Malcolm X

As a young person I always knew I would be a teacher. I loved education and learning about human capacity. The most important part of my journey is working with extraordinary educators and students on a daily basis. I am forever grateful for the many role models who are the true champions of education who taught me never, ever give up on students.

I became an English teacher in 1992 at Marine View Middle School in Ocean View School District (OVSD). At Marine View I was appointed to be an assistant principal in 1998. Being a teacher was always first and foremost; however, I knew that a key piece of my education as an English teacher needed to be fulfilled.

Understanding how a person learns to read is a miraculous discovery! As the Principal at Faylane Elementary School in Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) in 2000, the teachers taught me how to teach reading. I learned teaching reading takes not only expertise and determination, but also a great deal of motivation so young minds can learn to love the formation of words.

In 2003, I was appointed to the position of Director of K-6 Instruction in Garden Grove Unified School District. The work in the instruction office provided me with insight of what teachers teach is imperative to child’s education. As the Director of Instruction, I learned that teachers need to collaborate with other teachers, and that pacing lessons and genres and analyzing assessments is important.

When I became the Director of Certificated Personnel, all the important lessons I learned as a teacher, principal, and director of instruction contributed to my quest to hire the most effective teachers and administrators. Hiring a quality staff takes a lot of time and effort and a true understanding of the potential for a great teacher. Perhaps most important, hiring the best staff and providing outstanding training result in greater achievement for students.

I became affiliated with UC Irvine after serving on the Department of Education Credential/Intern Advisory Committee. I had hired many students from UCI and was keenly aware of the preparation and rigor of the UCI Credential Program. It was clear that students from UCI’s Credential and Masters programs were prepared to take on the many challenges in an urban school district.

Today, I am the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Huntington Beach Union High School District. HBUHSD is a school district with professionals who strive to educate and motivate students. The focus on excellence is clear, and the results are proven. I feel so blessed to work with a Board of Trustees, a Superintendent, and staff that work everyday to provide the best education for students.

My hope for the future is to continue to furnish our schools with the most effective personnel for our students.

<< Leadership Spotlights Home