George J. McKenna III explained

George J. McKenna III
Office:Member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education
for the 1st district
Term Start:August 28, 2014
Predecessor:Marguerite LaMotte
Office1:Vice President of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education
President1:Steve Zimmer
Term Start1:July 1, 2015
Term End1:July 6, 2017
Predecessor1:Steve Zimmer
Successor1:Nick Melvoin
Alma Mater:Xavier University of Louisiana (Ed.D, BMath)
Loyola Law School (M.A.)
Birth Date:6 September 1940
Birth Place:New Orleans, Louisiana
Party:Democratic

George J. McKenna III (born September 6, 1940) is an American politician and former educator currently serving as a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education for District 1, a position he has held since 2014. Prior to his board tenure, McKenna served as the principal of George Washington Preparatory High School. During his tenure, he led reforms to address issues related to gang violence in the school. His initiatives at the school were recounted in the 1986 biographical film The George McKenna Story where he was portrayed by Denzel Washington.

By 1988, he was appointed to the Inglewood Unified School District as the superintendent, where he was later ousted from the District due to him clashing with the board. He served in various capacities in different school districts including on the Compton Unified School District and the Pasadena Unified School District. In 2014, he won a special election to succeed Marguerite LaMotte on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education after she died, serving until he announced his retirement in 2024.

Early life and education

George J. McKenna III was born on September 6, 1940 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, earning a Bachelor of Mathematics degree at the age of 20. Later, he earned a Doctor of Education degree from the same university. He furthered his education by attending Loyola Law School, where he was awarded a teaching fellowship and earned a master's degree in mathematics.[1]

Early career and film

In 1964, McKenna took a teaching position at David Starr Jordan High School in Watts, Los Angeles, with the Watts riots taking place a year after and inspiring him to have an interest in serving the school system.[2] In 1979, McKenna assumed the role of principal at Washington High School in Westmont, California, which faced challenges with low academic performance, frequent student absences, and gang violence. Throughout his tenure as principal, he successfully reformed the school to a point where nearly eighty percent of its graduates pursued higher education.[3] McKenna's time as school principal was praised and was given national acclaim, with his actions being depicted in the 1986 television film The George McKenna Story, where he was portrayed by Denzel Washington.[4] [5] He participated in the movie's ending scene, where he narrates the changes to the school because of the efforts of the community.[6] The movie was praised for Washington's depiction of McKenna and for showcasing the reforms that were installed in the school.[7]

In 1988, McKenna was appointed as the superintendent of the Inglewood Unified School District, riding on the popularity of the film.[8] While superintendent, he clashed with the board on various issues.[9] By September 1993, the Inglewood Unified School District Board announced that they would not renew his contract.[10] [11] Some of the members of the Board of Education called his actions arrogant, blaming him for deficits that the districts was facing at the time, and he lost a no-confidence vote.[12] In 1994, the Compton Unified School District hired McKenna as deputy superintendent, an office he would hold until 2001.[13] [14] In June 2000, he was appointed as Superintendent of the 1st Subdistrict for the Los Angeles Unified School District created by Superintendent Ramón C. Cortines.[15] [12] From 2001 until 2008, he was an assistant Superintendent for the Pasadena Unified School District.[16]

LAUSD Board of Education

On December 5, 2013, longtime Los Angeles Unified School District board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte died, with supporters rallying around McKenna to be appointed to her seat.[17] [18] The board decided to call for a special election to fill her seat, with her successor having to run again for the regular 2014 election.[19] In the primary election, McKenna and education policy advisor Alex Johnson emerged as the top two candidates, advancing to the runoff.[20] [21] McKenna won against Johnson in the subsequent runoff election with low turnout.[22] [23] [24] He was sworn into office by Jesse Jackson and won re-election unopposed that next year.[25] [26] [27] His inauguration was attended by U.S. Representative Maxine Waters and civil rights activist Danny Bakewell.[28]

In November 2014, McKenna and board members Bennett Kayser and Steve Zimmer proposed a resolution to require ethnic studies courses in its high schools, which was approved by the Board.[29] On July 1, 2015, McKenna was named as the Vice President of the Board of Education by newly-elected President Steve Zimmer.[30] He was replaced by Nick Melvoin after Melvoin's election to the board on July 6, 2017, as he defeated President Zimmer in the 2017 election. In September 2019, McKenna helped to launch the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority pass program for K-12 students in the LAUSD.[31] He was re-elected to the Board in that next year, running unopposed again.[32] In February 2024, McKenna announced his decision not to pursue re-election for the upcoming 2024 election.[33] He endorsed senior aide Sherlett Hendy Newbill to take over for his seat in the 2024 election, and she was elected to succeed him.[34] [35]

Personal life

McKenna lives in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles.[12] In 1989, McKenna received the Congressional Black Caucus’ Chairman’s Award and was later inducted into the National Alliance of Black School Educators’ Hall of Fame in 1997.[36] He was honored by Loyola Law School with a Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Public ServiceAward in March 2017.[37]

Electoral history

Year! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2
OfficePartyPrimaryGeneralResultSwing.
Total%.Total%.
2014LAUSD Board of Education (1st)Nonpartisan19,80344.56%1st17,02552.81%1stN/A
2015Nonpartisan28,456100.00%1stN/A
2020Nonpartisan107,280100.00%1stN/A[38]

Notes and References

  1. News: Afro-American dinner features George McKenna. February 22, 1991. 17. The Hanford Sentinel.
  2. Web site: Emancipation through Education: the mantra of George McKenna. Reese, Gregg. May 8, 2014. Our Weekly.
  3. Web site: A Matter of Principal. November 1, 1986. Los Angeles Times.
  4. Web site: 'THE GEORGE McKENNA STORY,' A MOVIE ON CBS. November 11, 1986. O'Connor, John. The New York Times.
  5. News: The George McKenna Story. November 9, 1986. The Washington Post.
  6. Web site: A movie, a principal and a turnaround school: 30 years since 'The George McKenna Story'. March 7, 2016. LASchoolReport. Szymanski, Mike.
  7. News: Telemovie shows realities of education reform. Winfrey, Lee. Daily Times-Advocate. November 11, 1986.
  8. Web site: A Hero Falls From Favor : Famed Inglewood School Supt. George McKenna on the Way Out. October 8, 1993. Fuetsch, Michele. Los Angeles Times.
  9. Web site: After 1 Year in Office, Doubts Cloud Charisma of Supt. George McKenna : Chasing Elusive Dreams. October 27, 1993. Lacey, Marc. Los Angeles Times.
  10. Web site: INGLEWOOD. September 11, 1993. Los Angeles Times.
  11. Web site: School Board in Inglewood Votes to Oust Superintendent : Education: Panel decides not to renew the contract of Supt. George J. McKenna III after the county appointed a fiscal overseer because of mismanagement.. September 10, 1993. Fuetsch, Michele. Los Angeles Times.
  12. Web site: The New Bosses. June 16, 2000. Los Angeles Times.
  13. Web site: INGLEWOOD : McKenna Becomes Compton Deputy Supt.. May 5, 1994. Richardson, Lisa. Los Angeles Times.
  14. Web site: COMPTON : Pay, Ethnicity of School Appointees Criticized. Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1994.
  15. Web site: L.A. Unified Appoints 11 Leaders for Subdistricts. June 16, 2000. Sahagun, Louis; Sauerwein, Kristina. Los Angeles Times.
  16. Web site: Sentinel Exclusive: Dr. George McKenna Announces Retirement from LAUSD Board of Education . July 20, 2023. Los Angeles Sentinel.
  17. Web site: 3 L.A. school board members favor special election to replace LaMotte. December 13, 2013. Blume, Howard. Los Angeles Times.
  18. Web site: Rift Emerges In Fight For Vacant LA School Board Seat . December 17, 2013. CBS News.
  19. Web site: Two well-known candidates, so far, aspire to replace LaMotte. January 6, 2014. Blume, Howard. Los Angeles Times.
  20. Web site: George McKenna and Alex Johnson leading in L.A. Unified race. June 4, 2014. Los Angeles Times.
  21. Web site: LAUSD Board of Education race: George McKenna, Alex Johnson heading for runoff . June 4, 2014. Los Angeles Daily News.
  22. Web site: Quote's context sheds better light on LAUSD candidate George McKenna. July 25, 2014. Banks, Sandy. Los Angeles Times.
  23. Web site: McKenna wins key L.A. school board seat, according to unofficial results. August 13, 2014. Blume, Howard. Los Angeles Times.
  24. Web site: Teachers union-backed candidate George McKenna elected to Los Angeles Unified school board . August 13, 2014. Himes, Thomas. Los Angeles Daily News.
  25. Web site: Rev. Jesse Jackson swears in LAUSD board member George McKenna . August 26, 2014. Himes, Thomas. Los Angeles Daily News.
  26. Web site: Four L.A. school board members likely to face reelection challenges. November 8, 2014. Blume, Howard. Los Angeles Times.
  27. Web site: George McKenna unopposed for L.A. school board; other races in flux. December 4, 2014. Blume, Howard. Los Angeles Times.
  28. Web site: An Emotional Dr. George McKenna is Officially Sworn In!!!. August 28, 2014. Miller, Kenneth D.. Los Angeles Sentinel.
  29. Web site: LAUSD board votes to add Ethnic Studies to schools' curriculum. November 19, 2014. June 14, 2016.
  30. Web site: Zimmer names McKenna, Ratliff, Vladovic as LA Unified reps. July 6, 2015. Szymanski, Mike. LASchoolReport.
  31. Web site: Dr. George J. Mckenna III Launches First-Of-Its Kind Student Transit Pass Program in LAUSD Schools. September 12, 2019. Los Angeles Sentinel.
  32. Web site: LA County's March 3 election results are certified; here's who will go to a Nov. 3 runoff . March 27, 2020. Daily Breeze. Littlejohn, Donna.
  33. Web site: Jackie Goldberg, George McKenna, LAUSD 'pillars,' will not seek school board reelection. August 2, 2023. Blume, Howard. Los Angeles Times.
  34. Web site: Endorsement: Sherlett Hendy Newbill for L.A. Unified school board District 1. February 4, 2024. Los Angeles Times.
  35. Web site: Longtime Dorsey High educator Sherlett Hendy Newbill elected to LAUSD board . November 8, 2024. LAist. Dale, Mariana.
  36. Web site: George McKenna Campaign Under Attack. Los Angeles Sentinel. July 24, 2014 . Bakewell Jr., Danny J..
  37. Web site: LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL TO HONOR LAUSD BOARD VP GEORGE McKENNA III WITH JOHNNIE L. COCHRAN, JR. PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD. February 17, 2017. Loyola Law School.
  38. Web site: Presidential Primary Election. March 3, 2020. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.