Tustin Unified School District - News Center

TUSD Appoints Gregory Franklin as New Superintendent

Dr. Gregory A. Franklin has been appointed as superintendent of the Tustin Unified School District. The appointment was made by the TUSD Board of Education at a special meeting today (March 9). He will begin work on July 1.

“I look forward to working with the school board; meeting the staff, students and parents; and continuing the history of educational excellence in the Tustin school district,” Franklin said.

Franklin will take over for Supt. Richard Bray, who is retiring in June after serving 43 years in public education – the past five years as superintendent of the Tustin school district.

Franklin will oversee a $167 million budget, 29 schools and over 23,000 students.

“He comes to us with excellent credentials,” Board President Lynn Davis said. “His innovative programs, community leadership, experience in facilities and technology,

and strong background in education will be an asset to the district.”

Franklin has worked in public education for the past 25 years. Most recently, he has served as superintendent of the Los Alamitos Unified School District for the past four years. Prior to that, he was assistant superintendent of educational services for the Glendale Unified School District for three years.

Additionally, Franklin has served as assistant superintendent of human resources in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, principal of Fullerton Union High School and Bonita High School in the Bonita Unified School District and assistant principal at Saddleback High School in the Santa Ana Unified School District.

He began his career as a social studies teacher and football and track coach at Saddleback High School. He took a year off to teach English as a Second Language to Japanese professionals in Tokyo, Japan.

Franklin earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in education from Chapman University and his doctorate in educational leadership from USC.

He has served as an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton, and California State University, Northridge.

Under his leadership in Los Alamitos USD, school and district API scores increased, the community passed a $126 million bond measure in 2008 and schools have earned multiple California Distinguished School awards. Franklin has also developed strong community partnerships, supported boosters and youth sports groups and increased the access and implementation of technology throughout the district.

Among his accomplishments, Franklin has received Golden Bell Awards by the California School Boards Association for various curriculum programs, and the Junior Achievement of Southern California’s Teacher of the Year Award for his work with students and applied economics courses.

In addition, he is a member of the Association of California School Administrators, State Superintendents Council, Southern California Superintendents and California Association of Latino Superintendents.

His community involvement has included serving as past-president of the Rotary Clubs of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach and Fullerton, and executive board member of the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce. He also chaired the Los Alamitos Youth Center annual donation campaign and reinvigorated the Los Alamitos USD Educational Foundation.

Franklin lives in Brea with his wife of 28 years, Debbie, and their three daughters.

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