The search for a new Culver City Unified School District superintendent is over.

Just under four months after former superintendent Quoc Tran was suddenly sacked by the district board, Dr. Brian Lucas has been named as the finalist for Culver City Unified School District’s superintendent position and is expected to have a contract approved at a board meeting on December 12.

Lucas has been in the education field since 1991 and currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in the Lynwood Unified School District. Before this role, he served for several years as Manhattan Beach Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and has worked in various support roles at the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The board had to act quickly following a 3-2 vote to agree to a separation agreement with Tran on August 15, and have since had several interim superintendents serve while a nationwide search was conducted. 

Upon Tran’s dismissal, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Angela Baxter served as Acting Superintendent before Dr. Steven Keller — who most recently served at Redondo Beach Unified School District and had retired at the beginning of 2023 — accepted a position as Interim Superintendent just five days later. Keller hit a state-mandated limit on his work due to his retirement in October, so Dr. Maria Martinez-Poulin was named Interim Superintendent to replace him.

Martinez-Poulin, who was Superintendent of Schools of the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), is currently serving as the superintendent for CCUSD and will remain with the district until January 31, 2024.  Lucas was selected from a pool of 25 candidates following a national search to replace Martinez-Poulin, and his intended start date is January 16.

“As an educator who has dedicated the last 25 years to supporting the growth and success of our young learners, exceptional staff, and wonderful families, I am proud to serve in a new leadership capacity as a member of this esteemed community,” Lucas said in a statement.

“In collaboration with our dedicated staff, families, and the broader community, I am committed to fostering academic excellence, upgrading school classrooms and buildings, and implementing innovative instructional approaches to ensure the success of every student.”

The school systems that Lucas has been a part of have benefitted from his presence and it shows. While Lucas was principal at Seattle Public Schools’ Beacon Hill Elementary, the school earned “Most improved test scores” in 2001, and was recognized by the teachers union as LAUSD principal of the year for his work towards improving test scores significantly to avoid state sanctions at Aurora Elementary School.

These achievements were recognized by the Culver City School Board, who noted his achievements and personal traits “Absolutely match what [they] are looking for.” 

“I look forward to working with Dr. Lucas,” Culver City Unified School District School Board President Paula Amezola said. “He is clearly the leader that we want to take the District to the next level.”

The excitement for the arrangement is shared, as Lucas expressed his own eagerness for the opportunity to take the helm at CCUSD.

“I look forward to leading with integrity, empathy, kindness, and dedication to the students of my new school community,” Lucas said, “While building upon the District’s achievements together.”