A Friend of the DREAMers Goes to the White House

Dr. Thelma Melendez, Superintendent of Schools of the Pomona School District in California has been named Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education

Dr. Melendez is married to my friend and colleague, Dr. Otto Santa Ana. Dr. Santa Ana is a professor at UCLA in Chicano Studies. They are currently moving to Washington, D.C. Dr. Melendez has worked with DREAMers at Pomona and has been a strong advocate of the DREAM Act.

From the White House web page

Dr. Thelma Melendez is currently serving as the Superintendent of Schools in the Pomona Unified School District in Pomona, CA. Her work on improving teaching and learning, and accelerating student performance, also includes work with the Stupski Educational Foundation and the Annenberg Foundation. She has written numerous articles for national education publications, and is an accomplished speaker on the role of school administrators, the achievement gap, women in education, and the issues of race and class. She earned a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, at UCLA, a Doctorate in Philosophy at the University of Southern California, participated in several graduate programs in school administration and leadership, and was a Broad Urban Superintendents Academy fellow.

More Information on Dr. Melendez