Superintendent's Bio
Dr. Melissa Moore joined the El Segundo Unified School District as superintendent in July 2014. She previously served as the assistant superintendent of human resources for the Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District. She has a background in employee-employer relations, community and educational foundations and student instruction, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School program that was implemented at El Segundo Middle School in 2014.
Dr. Moore began her educational career as a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District where she taught elementary grades with significant experience in English Language development. After Glendale, she moved to Yucaipa-Calimesa for more than 20 years where she was employed as a teacher, assistant principal, elementary and middle school principal before moving into district administration.
In 2018, Dr. Moore was selected Superintendent of the Year (Region 14) by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). According to the District’s administrators and members of the Board of Education (BOE) in her nomination application, “ESUSD has improved in every area under Dr. Moore’s leadership. She has continually strived to understand the values of students, parents, staff, community and the BOE.” Moore is known for challenging ESUSD leaders and educators to examine District practices and ask the tough questions about access and equity for all students.
During her tenure as ESUSD’s superintendent, the district successfully passed a $92M General Obligation Bond Measure to improve school facilities and technology in 2018; and in 2017, established a legacy or endowment fund with $16M of proceeds from the sale of the Imperial Street School property that will provide ongoing annual revenue for technology infrastructure, deferred maintenance and capital outlay projects.
Under her guidance, ESUSD has adopted a new Graduate Profile; implemented Project Lead the Way/STEM curriculum for K-12; facilitated a partnership with the Cotsen Foundation and Loyola Marymount University for a peer coaching model to support CGI; implemented a 1:1 technology initiative for grades 4-12; and achieved the highest graduation rate in the region at 98.9 percent. ESUSD was selected as a member of the League of Innovative Schools in 2016, and has been recognized with more than 20 awards from outside agencies in the last five years.
She earned her doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in reading and language arts from California State University, Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the University of Redlands.
Dr. Moore was one of 15 superintendents selected to attend a summit in Texas to provide feedback on educational innovation, and was awarded a Leading Educator Scholarship to Arizona State University’s Global Silicon Valley Summit. She has been recognized for her leadership and community involvement through the 8th Congressional District Woman of Distinction Award, City of Yucaipa City Council Certificate of Commendation, USC Dean’s Superintendents Advisory Group Merit Scholarship Award, and the California Human Resources Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators.