October 3, 2022
Dear Inglewood Unified School District Family,
After three years of proudly serving as the County Administrator of the Inglewood Unified School District, I have decided to prioritize my health and my family, and will be stepping down from my position effective October 31, 2022.
This has been a very difficult decision to make. Some of you may know that I was diagnosed with breast cancer almost ten years ago. Unfortunately, I recently had a recurrence and I have been struggling with the reality of fighting this disease.
As much as I have tried to maintain the same level of commitment to the Inglewood Unified students, families, teachers, staff, and community, my health is preventing me from being able to continue the work with the same pace and intensity that a district in receivership deserves. Despite undergoing treatment, I have done my best to maintain the same level of work. However, after consulting with my doctors and my family, maintaining this level of commitment with the demands that come with this role, I am compromising my health and my family’s wellbeing.
I love the Inglewood Unified School District. I am proud of the progress we have made in this district since the authority shifted to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Serving as the County Administrator has been one of the most rewarding roles in my career.
Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo will be sharing next steps about the transition with you soon.
While I am stepping down as the County Administrator to focus on my health and wellbeing, I leave knowing that the district is in a better place than when we came in. I appreciate every single one of you who has been a part of this journey with me. Collectively, we have moved our schools forward, closer to returning our district to local control.
#WeAreInglewoodUnified
Sincerely,
Erika F. Torres,
Ed.D., M.S.W. County Administrator
Inglewood Unified School District
Dear Inglewood Unified School District Family,
I am tremendously grateful to Dr. Erika Torres for her commitment and the progress she was able to accomplish at the Inglewood Unified School District in her tenure as County Administrator. We are closer to returning this district back to local control and her leadership was a significant contributing factor.
Dr. Torres is one of the most hardworking and committed individuals I know. She has always placed what is best for children at the center of every decision. This decision is another example of her prioritizing what is best for this district moving forward. I know this was not an easy decision for her to make. However, I supported and encouraged her in this decision to focus on her health and wellbeing. We all hope and pray for her full recovery. We support her and her family.
To ensure stability while we go through the selection process for a new County Administrator, Mr. Arturo Valdez, former LACOE Deputy Superintendent will join the Inglewood Unified family as the Administrator in Charge on October 10, 2022. This means that during the transition, Mr. Valdez will be authorized to serve as my designee and exercise the authority of the County Administrator of the Inglewood Unified School District, including the powers of the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education, with ratification.
We will work with the Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to go through the selection process for the new County Administrator as the Education Code stipulates. We will work to get community and partner feedback. We are working towards having a new County Administrator appointed by January 2, 2023. If you have questions, please email superintendent@lacoe.edu.
We will continue this upward trajectory in the Inglewood Unified School District. We will build on the progress and successes Dr. Torres leaves behind.
Sincerely,
Debra Duardo,
M.S.W., Ed.D. Superintendent
