Latino Leaders

Be True to Who You Are with Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana

Pablo Muñoz Episode 7

Join host Pablo Muñoz for an informative conversation with his featured guest — Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana.

Thelma is a former bilingual teacher, principal, superintendent, and Assistant Secretary of Education for the US Department of Education.  Thelma dedicated her career to ensuring that all students, particularly disadvantaged ones, succeed in school through high-quality teaching and learning. 

1:03 - Introduction
2:00 - My Leadership Story
25:45 - Authenticity
32:12 - Resilience
44:35 - Empathy
54:32 - Educational Leadership
59:48 - Latina Leaders
1:05:13 - United States Department of Education
1:10:00 - Superintendent of Schools
1:12:04 - Guiding Principles

Dr. Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana is a retired superintendent of schools who successfully served in three California school districts.  Thelma has a wealth of experience from her 38-year career in public education.  The American Association of School Administrators named her the California Superintendent of the Year in 2009.  In addition, Thelma served as the Chief Executive Officer in the Office of Educational Services for the Los Angeles Unified School District and served as the senior education advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.  She is a Trustee on The J. Paul Getty Trust and is Trustee Emerita of the California State University system.

Thelma earned a bachelor of arts, cum laude, from UCLA and a Ph.D. from USC.  She received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University.  Thelma is the recipient of the 2012 Alumni Merit Award from the USC Alumni Association, the 2011 Mexican American Opportunity Foundation’s National Hispanic Woman of the Year, and Hispanic Business Magazine’s 2010 Woman of the Year.

LinkedIn:  llinkedin.com/in/thelma-melendez-5b762515

Email: thelma.melendez@gmail.com


Latino Leaders publishes new episodes weekly on Mondays.

Latino Leaders podcast is a production of Muñoz & Company, an educational and leadership consulting organization.

For additional information visit:  themunozcompany.com

Learn more about Pablo:  themunozcompany.com/pablo-munoz

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/pablo-muñoz-b30b2ab1

Email:  pablo@themunozcompany.com