About me
Leona is a longtime ACSA member and an accomplished educational leader with 41 years of dedicated service in the public school system. Before retiring, she served as the Assistant Superintendent, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Throughout a distinguished career, Leona has held secondary site administrative roles at both the middle and high school levels, as well as cabinet-level roles in educational and student services. For the past 13 years, she has specialized in human resources. Her experience spans small and large unified districts and small elementary districts.
Known for her ability to build enduring, positive relationships, Leona has a proven track record cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce, creating sustainable systems, addressing employee performance, building labor relations, and successfully negotiating collective bargaining agreements. A master communicator and skilled investigator, she now brings her deep knowledge and experience supporting and developing leadership capacity as an ACSA Director for the Personnel Academy and a featured presenter.
Leona grew up in British Columbia, Canada and is a first-generation college graduate, earning her undergraduate degree in education from the University of Alberta and her Master of Education, School Management and Administration from the University of LaVerne. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as playing golf, hiking, and Pilates.
