Dr. Angela Elizondo Baxter is the current superintendent of South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD). She started her career in education in 1996, and has served students in both California and Texas in numerous roles, including as a teacher, professional development coordinator, instructional coach, principal, director of teaching and learning, assistant superintendent of educational services, and adjunct professor. Before she was appointed superintendent of SPUSD, Dr. Baxter helped lead the Culver City Unified School District by coaching and supervising principals at all levels, guiding the district through the annual LCAP process, and overseeing and implementing grants.

 

During her time as an International Baccalaureate principal within Pasadena Unified School District, she increased the percentage of African American/Black students reading at grade level by 21 percent, and her school was honored with the California Civic Learning Award of Distinction. Dr. Baxter also served as principal of Santa Susana Elementary School in the Simi Valley Unified School District, where she oversaw a successful transition to the Common Core state standards and implemented active learning strategies that increased English learner reclassification by 20 percent. From 2005-2012, Dr. Baxter was a TK-12th grade English Language Arts/English Language Development specialist with the Ventura Office of Education. Her experience in California started as a professional development coordinator with the Oxnard Elementary School District.

 

Dr. Baxter has also taught several courses as a college adjunct professor in Texas and California. In Texas, she taught at Houston Community College and the University of St. Thomas while also working as an instructional coach and classroom teacher at Alief Independent School District. In California, Dr. Baxter has taught multiple graduate literacy/English Language Development courses at California Lutheran University and California State University, Northridge. 

 

Dr. Baxter earned her doctorate in K-12 Leadership from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree from Texas State University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

 

She currently resides in Glendale, California, with her husband and two sons.