UCLA has long been proud of its commitment to delivering top-quality education and care to our youngest Bruins, from infants to 12th grade, through UCLA’s Early Care and Education (ECE) Centers, Psychology Department Infant Development Program (IDP), Lab School, and Geffen Academy. To strengthen campus administrative support, UCLA recently established a Superintendent of PreK-12 Operations to provide management and coordination of the various needs of these programs and schools, creating a bridge between school leadership and campus operations through UCLA Administration.
Dr. Devin Dillon joined UCLA as Superintendent of PreK-12 Operations effective July 8, 2019. Devin has a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and a wealth of management experience within educational settings. Her background includes roles as National Senior Executive Director for New Leaders and senior leadership roles with Oakland Unified School District, including Interim Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Chief Academic Officer. She also held leadership positions with the Los Angeles Unified School District and Denver Public Schools, including as a principal and teacher.
Devin Dillon, Superintendent of Pre K-12 Operations
Spend a few minutes with Devin and you’ll quickly realize that she is passionate about education and the unique opportunity that this new position provides. For years, each of UCLA’s PreK-12 programs and schools has worked independently to meet the needs of students and parents while furthering UCLA’s mission of education, research, and service. As Devin talks about the opportunity to facilitate a community of practitioners and school leaders, Devin expresses that she is “excited to have the opportunity to build a professional space for school leaders to come together and collaborate.”
Like other public and private schools, UCLA PreK-12 Programs and Schools shares similar goals, working to provide spaces and opportunities that serve students and families, providing a great education, enriching lives, facilitating learning, and fostering personal growth. The programs and schools on UCLA campus are unique in that they serve as a recruitment and retention tool for faculty and staff. In addition, the Lab School serves as the Graduate School of Education's research laboratory for California public schools, providing a model of best practice in education-the only school of its kind in the nation. The unique nature of the programs and schools creates interesting challenges and opportunities. Although Devin will focus on operations, her efforts will provide an opportunity and framework for collaboration and innovation that benefits all PreK-12 programs and schools on UCLA campus.
Devin has spent several weeks getting to know school leaders, staff, families, and faculty and learning more about the schools and programs. Over the next year, families and students will be encouraged to engage as our system of PreK-12 programs and schools considers its collective values and vision and grows towards an effective network supporting common goals and objectives.
Left to right: George Ryan (12), Devin, and Jack Sky (9) on Balboa Island July 4, 2019.
