Saturday, July 25, 2009

US SENATE CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF POMONA SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT FOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION POST

Staff Reports LA Newspaper Group/LA Daily News

Posted: 07/25/2009 06:01:08 PM PDT

Updated: 07/25/2009 06:49:54 PM PDT

WASHINGTON - Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, the Pomona Unified School District Superintendent of Schools, has been approved as Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, according to information from the U.S. Senate Web site.

The Senate approved her nomination Friday night.

Melendez de Santa Ana was nominated May 20 for the post by President Barack Obama.

At that time, California Schools Chief Jack O'Connell congratulated her on her nomination.

"I could not be more pleased that the President has selected Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana for such a key post in his administration," he said in his statement.

"She is a highly respected educator whose commitment and passion for helping students inspires everyone who works with her. Her motto of `Respect, Responsibility, and Results' for every student, parent, and educator are key to improving student achievement. I know she will serve the nation's children well in her new position as President Obama's Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. I look forward to continued collaboration with her and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on our efforts in California to improve public education and close the achievement gap."

Melendez de Santa Ana earned a bachelor cum laude in sociology from UCLA. As a Title VII Fellow, she earned a Ph.D. in language, literacy & learning from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

During her career, Melendez de Santa Ana has worked in the Montebello and Pasadena school districts as a bilingual classroom teacher, middle school assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, elementary school principal and director of instruction for elementary and middle schools.

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