The CCUSD Board of Education is announcing the hiring of a number of new administrators to start the 2023-2024 school year:
Michael Reynolds
Interim Assistant Superintendent – Business Services
start date September 5, 2023
Michael Reynolds most recently served as Vice President of Reynolds Consulting Group, Inc., in Temecula, a firm that provides school business management services to 50 school districts, by preparing reports, special projects, or interim management services. The firm also provides training to school district staff on school business procedures and reporting, negotiation assistance at the bargaining table and budgeting services. Reynolds previously served as the Interim Superintendent, Business Services in the Moreno Valley Unified School District. He has experience working for CCUSD, where he served as Assistant Superintendent, Business Services from 2012 to 2017. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of California – Riverside, a master’s degree from California State University – San Bernardino and is currently an Ed.D. candidate at Grand Canyon University.
Deanna Sinfield
Assistant Superintendent – SELPA
start date September 1, 2023
Deanna Sinfield comes to CCUSD from the Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District, where she served as the Director of Special Education, overseeing that district’s special education programs and staffing, inclusion practices, and legal compliance for 1,500 students with lEPs, from infancy through age 22. She previously served in a variety of capacities in the Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District, including Principal, Vice Principal, School Psychologist and Special Education Coordinator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California – Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in counseling psychology and school psychology from California State University – Northridge. Sinfield earned her administrative credential from LACOE-Education Center East and is a licensed educational psychologist.
Wanda Scott
Assistant Director – Fiscal Services
start date August 14, 2023
Wanda Scott most recently served as Assistant Director, Business Services for the Palmdale School District, where she organized and oversaw the district’s accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchase orders, contracts, conferences, field trips, billing, chargebacks, fixed/capital assets and more. She also spent three years as the district’s Accounting/Data Processing Technician, helping to develop and coordinate the district’s fund budgets. Scott is also experienced in the IT world, having served for 11 years in the Information Technology Department at the City of Pasadena.
Dr. Maribel Galan
Interim Principal – Culver City Adult School
start date September 11, 2023
Dr. Maribel Galan is currently an education consultant, working with various districts on their higher education programs, including adult education. She is an adjunct professor at both the USC Rossier School of Education and the Attallah College of Educational Studies at Chapman College in Orange. She spent four years as Interim Middle School Site Administrator in the Redondo Beach Unified School District and three additional years as Superintendent of Alta Public Schools in Walnut Park. She earned a bachelor’s degree in law and society from University of California – Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in education and administration from California State University – Dominguez Hills, and a doctorate in educational leadership, administration and policy from Pepperdine University.
Dr. Paul Karaiakoubian
Principal – El Marino Language School
start date September 1, 2023
Dr. Paul Karaiakoubian, who has been Acting Principal at El Marino Language School, has been named to the permanent post. He has served in the interim role at the school since March, when he was elevated from the Assistant Principal position he had served in since the beginning of the year. Karaiakoubian previously spent more than eight years in the Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District, where he worked as a Math and Science Coach as well as a Math Teacher and Chair of the Math Department. Prior to that, he served as a classroom teacher at both Indian Hills Continuation High School and Agoura High School. Karaiakoubian earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in secondary education and teaching from UCLA. He also earned a doctorate in teacher education and professional development from the University of Southern California.
Jennifer Servin
Assistant Principal – El Marino Language School
start date September 1, 2023
Jennifer Servin, who has served as a Dual Immersion Teacher at El Marino since 2014, moves to a new role at the school as Assistant Principal. She previously worked in CCUSD as an Instructional Assistant at El Marino and an Interventionist at El Rincon. Prior to that, Servin spent four years as a Behavior Therapist with Behavior Consultants and Associates. She earned her bachelor’s degree from California State University – Northridge and her master’s degree from UCLA.
Allison Curry
Assistant Principal – Culver Park High School
start date August 23, 2023
Allison Curry is currently a consultant with Greenhouse Learning, collaborating with students, parents, and schools to build community. and improve educational experiences, facilities, and outcomes for everyone. She has previously served as Interim Head of School for Tree Academy and Assistant Principal of Ritter Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Curry earned bachelor’s degrees in business and marketing from Southeastern University, a master’s degree in teaching from University of Southern California and a second master’s degree in educational leadership from UCLA.
Patrice Dodd
Assistant Principal – Farragut Elementary School
Start date September 13, 2023 (pending Board Approval on September 12, 2023)
Patrice Dodd was most recently Director of Special Education at Citizens of the World Charter Schools in Los Angeles, where she oversaw the school-wide special education program. She previously worked as a Special Education Teacher and Case Manager in the Redondo Beach Unified School District and a Special Education Teacher and Case Manager with Green Dot Public Schools. Fluent in Spanish, she earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from California State University – Long Beach and a master’s degree in special education from California State University – Dominguez Hills.
“We are excited to welcome all of these outstanding administrators to their new positions and look forward to the positive impact they will have on the students and families of the Culver City Unified School District,” said Interim Superintendent Steven Keller.
