Superintendent

Guiding Principles

• We believe students, parents, staff and community have a shared responsibility for the establishment of a professional culture built upon dedication, honesty, integrity, pride, perseverance, collaboration, teamwork, and mutual trust and respect.

• We believe students, parents, staff and community have a shared responsibility for recognizing the diverse learning styles and individual needs of our students and ensuring all students meet high learning standards.

• We believe students, parents, staff and community have a shared responsibility to create a learning environment reflecting our community's diversity that is safe, clean, supportive and responsive.

• We believe students, parents, staff and community have a shared responsibility to protect and preserve the short-and long-term financial well-being of the District.

BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTS DR. ALFONSO JIMENEZ AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT FOR HACIENDA LA PUENTE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

CITY OF INDUSTRY – May 29, 2020 – The Board of Education of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District announced today that they selected Dr. Alfonso Jimenez as the district’s new permanent superintendent at the board’s May 28th meeting. The announcement is the culmination of an extensive national search that saw consideration of many highly qualified education leaders.

With regards to the selection, Board President Anthony Duarte said, “The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District is truly unique among California districts. Our diverse student body reflects the state’s future, we host the state’s second-largest adult education program, and we lead our peers in innovative service delivery that supports the whole child. Dr. Jimenez has dedicated his career to serving students like ours and exploring how to leverage our institutions and policy framework in pursuit of that mission. On behalf of the Board of Education, I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Jimenez to the District. I would also like to make a special note of the extraordinary work interim superintendent Annie Bui has done, especially given the profound challenges the COVID-19 outbreak has posed. We all owe her many thanks.”

Dr. Jimenez is a recognized educator and thoughtful leader in PreK-12 education who has focused his 24-year career on expanding access and achieving equity for students of diverse backgrounds and needs. He currently serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services for the Santa Ana Unified School District. As the district’s Chief Academic Officer, he oversees instructional services for over 45,600 students, 40% of whom are English Learners. Under his leadership, Santa Ana USD has seen improved graduation rates, invested in Career Technical Education pathways, earned CORE District honors for closing the achievement gap, and expanded Pre-Kindergarten program offerings.

Upon learning of the board’s decision, Dr. Jimenez remarked, “It’s an honor and a blessing to be selected superintendent of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, a community with a rich tradition and history. I want to thank the Board for placing their confidence in me to lead the district forward during these unprecedented times. Working towards developing a common vision and purpose, we will provide a high-quality education built on equity and access for all students. I look forward to meeting and working collaboratively with our Board, students, parents, district staff, and community as we embark on this journey together.”

Dr. Jimenez began his career as a teacher in the Long Beach Unified School District and served as an Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, and Assistant Superintendent in multiple districts before his current role. His work as a principal was honored by California Business for Educational Excellence for increasing student achievement consistently for three consecutive years in all student sub-groups. He holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, where his research culminated in a dissertation titled, Superintendent Communication Strategies and Experiences That Promote Trust and Positive Relationships with the School Board during the Entry Period: A Case Study. He earned a B.S. in Physiology with a minor in Chemistry from CSU Long Beach and an M.S. in Administration from Pepperdine University. Dr. Jimenez is married to a fellow educator, with whom he has three children. He enjoys reading, music, genealogy, and traveling with his family.

The Board of Education will consider Dr. Jimenez’s contract on June 25th. Contingent on its expected approval, Dr. Jimenez will begin in his new role on July 1st.

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Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (HLPUSD) is a leader in building the foundation that students need to become successful scholars.  Our District serves a very diverse student population, from Transitional Kindergarten to Adult Education.  A main priority is to ensure inclusion and access to quality education for every student that walks into our district.  HLPUSD was highlighted as a district that invests significant resources to meet the needs of foster and homeless students, and we are committed to providing high caliber academics and co-curricular activities.  

We are very proud of the continues success of our schools, two of which have been designated as National Blue Ribbon Schools, 13 Gold Ribbon Schools, and three high schools that have been honored in the U.S. News and World Report among the best high schools in the nation.

HLPUSD was the only district in the state awarded the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell District-wide Dual Language Immersion that offers Chinese, Korean and Spanish.  Additional programs offered at various schools include JROTC, coding, robotics, Ballet Folklorico, AVID, AP/IB, CTE pathways, and sports at all grade levels.

The District also operates the second largest adult education program in the state, currently serving over 14,000 students and offering career development in programs that range from culinary arts to certified nursing assistant, automotive repair, and more.

The district has articulation with the high schools and adult education to ensure all students have a pathway to opportunities after high school.

We are proud of the positive impact we have on our students' lives.  It would not be possible without the hard work of our students, their teachers, administrators, and support staff members.  We look forward to continuing to provide the highest quality of education, while prioritizing access and inclusion for all.