CCUSD Announces New School Superintendent

Editor's note: This article was updated at 3:40 p.m. on June 29 to include statements from LaRose.

 The Culver City Unified School District Board of Education has appointed a new superintendent.

David LaRose will replace outgoing Superintendent Patti Jaffe, whose retirement takes effect June 30. LaRose's contract is slated to be officially approved at the July 10 Board of Education meeting and he will take up his position effective Aug. 1.

LaRose comes to Culver City after spending four years as superintendent at the South Kitsap School District in Washington State where he was named that district's 2012 Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. And in 2009 LaRose received the Washington State ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) Whole Child Award for his systemic and strategic approach to meeting the needs of all students.

In an official release, the board stated that LaRose is "a strong advocate for the whole child and believes that in order for every child to succeed, we must ensure that they are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged and hopeful.

"The Board is so excited to welcome Dave to Culver City,” School Board President Karlo Silbiger said in a written statement. “Our school district will be in such great hands with a leader like Dave who understands the connectivity between school, home and community.  He will really elevate our focus on what’s best for kids in all aspects of their lives.”

Prior to his post at South Kitsap, where he also received the Kitsap Scouting Service to Youth Award in 2011, LaRose worked as a teacher and administrator in Arizona. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont and a master’s degree in education from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

In an official statement, LaRose said he was leaving his post in South Kitsap in part to be closer to his daughters, one of whom just graduated from UCLA. The Kitsap Sun reported LaRose's other daughter is headed to university in Phoenix, AZ.

"As my wife and I enter a new chapter with our children, we want to and need to be closer to them, to be able to see them and support them as they transition into young adults," LaRose stated. "I am truly saddened to be leaving this place that has been so wonderful to me and my family. In my eight years with SKSD I have learned so much and benefited both personally and professionally."

The Culver City community is invited to meet LaRose on Tues. July 17 at 6 p.m. at the school district headquarters at 4034 Irving Place.

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