George J. McKenna III

George J. McKenna III was born on September 6, 1940 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, earning a Bachelor of Mathematics degree at the age of 20. Later, he earned a Doctor of Education degree from the same university. He furthered his education by attending Loyola Law School, where he was awarded a teaching fellowship and earned a master's degree in mathematics.^[1][2]

In 1964, McKenna took a teaching position at David Starr Jordan High School in Watts, Los Angeles, with the Watts riots taking place a year after and inspiring him to have an interest in serving the school system.^[3] In 1979, McKenna assumed the role of principal at Washington High School in Westmont, California, which faced challenges with low academic performance, frequent student absences, and gang violence. Throughout his tenure as principal, he successfully reformed the school to a point where nearly eighty percent of its graduates pursued higher education.^[4] McKenna's time as school principal was praised and was given national acclaim, with his actions being depicted in the 1986 television film The George McKenna Story, where he was portrayed by Denzel Washington.^[5][6] He participated in the movie's ending scene, where he narrates the changes to the school because of the efforts of the community.^[7] The movie was praised for Washington's depiction of McKenna and for showcasing the reforms that were installed in the school.^[8]

In 1988, McKenna was appointed as the superintendent of the Inglewood Unified School District, riding on the popularity of the film.^[9] While superintendent, he clashed with the board on various issues.^[10] By September 1993, the Inglewood Unified School District Board announced that they would not renew his contract.^[11][12] Some of the members of the Board of Education called his actions arrogant, blaming him for deficits that the districts was facing at the time, and he lost a no-confidence vote.^[1] In 1994, the Compton Unified School District hired McKenna as deputy superintendent, an office he would hold until 2001.^[13][14] In June 2000, he was appointed as Superintendent of the 1st Subdistrict for the Los Angeles Unified School District created by Superintendent Ramón C. Cortines.^[15][1] From 2001 until 2008, he was an assistant Superintendent for the Pasadena Unified School District.^[16]

On December 5, 2013, longtime Los Angeles Unified School District board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte died, with supporters rallying around McKenna to be appointed to her seat.^[17][18] The board decided to call for a special election to fill her seat, with her successor having to run again for the regular 2014 election.^[19] In the primary election, McKenna and education policy advisor Alex Johnson emerged as the top two candidates, advancing to the runoff.^[20][21] McKenna won against Johnson in the subsequent runoff election with low turnout.^[22][23][24] He was sworn into office by Jesse Jackson and won re-election unopposed that next year.^[25][26][27] His inauguration was attended by U.S. Representative Maxine Waters and civil rights activist Danny Bakewell.^[28]

In November 2014, McKenna and board members Bennett Kayser and Steve Zimmer proposed a resolution to require ethnic studies courses in its high schools, which was approved by the Board.^[29] On July 1, 2015, McKenna was named as the Vice President of the Board of Education by newly-elected President Steve Zimmer.^[30] He was replaced by Nick Melvoin after Melvoin's election to the board on July 6, 2017, as he defeated President Zimmer in the 2017 election. In September 2019, McKenna helped to launch the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority pass program for K-12 students in the LAUSD.^[31] He was re-elected to the Board in that next year, running unopposed again.^[32] In February 2024, McKenna announced his decision not to pursue re-election for the upcoming 2024 election.^[33] He endorsed senior aide Sherlett Hendy Newbill to take over for his seat in the 2024 election, and she was elected to succeed him.^[34][35]

McKenna lives in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles.^[1] In 1989, McKenna received the Congressional Black Caucus’ Chairman’s Award and was later inducted into the National Alliance of Black School Educators’ Hall of Fame in 1997.^[36] He was honored by Loyola Law School with a Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Public Service Award in March 2017.^[37]