CALIFORNIA GIRLS STATE ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
Our Education Network
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Eva Luc
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Tell me what about your position as the GEAR UP Director at Alliance.
I manage Alliance College-Ready Public Schools' GEAR UP program, which supports low-income students in Los Angeles and prepares them for college and career readiness through academic, social, emotional, and student/family engagement support. This is actually a new program that I've been managing for over a month, so right now my typical week is everything it takes to launch a new program: hire a team, meet with principals and counselors to assess their needs, plan programming for the academic year, create systems and policies from budget to data and evaluation, create community-based partnerships to support our students, research best practices and programs, and more! Even though it's very fast-paced and overwhelming at times, I'm grateful for the privilege to serve our students and families.
Tell me what about how you got to your current role.
As the first person in my family to graduate from high school and college, my students' experiences deeply resonate with me. My parents were immigrant refugees from Vietnam, and like many of Alliance's families, sacrificed and worked incredibly hard to give me an education. Like many of our students, I struggled with the academic and cultural shocks of college before I hit my stride. In the years since, I have learned - and continue to be deeply upset by - the systemic inequity that oppresses marginalized communities and classes, in particular black and brown communities. This is what drove me to my current role.
After I graduated from USC with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and East Asian Languages and Cultures, I became an English teacher in South Korea. I worked a number of odd jobs when I returned to the States before working as a Program Specialist and Academic Advisor at the USC East Asian Studies Center. While working at USC, I earned my Master of Public Administration degree. I wanted to transition from higher education to the K-12 public education sector; I was fortunate to be selected for an Education Pioneers Fellowship. The fellowship built the bridge for me, giving me the classroom experience and gave me the network to get hired as the Director of Development at Alliance. After three years, I wanted to return to my program roots, so I pursued this position with the GEAR UP program.
What's the coolest thing you've done in your career so far? What are you most proud of?
The Education Pioneers Fellowship was one of the coolest things I've done. I got to spend a summer learning from and working with an incredible group of diverse leaders, who are passionately committed to social justice and educational equity.
I am proud of earning my Master's degree while working full-time! I still can't believe I survived 2.5 years of sleep deprivation.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career in this field?
Work hard and be kind no matter what job you're starting out in because employers remember good people, and opportunities will open up for you later in life. I did well in my student job at USC; years later my boss remembered me and offered me a full-time opportunity.
Volunteer. Many non-profits are under-sourced and under-staffed, so volunteering is a great way to do good and build both relationships and experience.
How has California Girls State and/or its alumnae community positively impacted your life and career?
Returning to volunteer as a counselor at California Girls State made a huge difference in my mid-twenties. I met some incredible alumnae who I am still best friends with and who inspire me constantly. It also cemented for me the importance of mentorship, female empowerment, and civic involvement.
Kimberly MacKinney, Ed.D.
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Tell me about your role and what it entails. What does a typical week look like?
Each week is unique, but I generally spend most of my time collaborating with administrators from other divisions, coaching principals, coordinating professional development with teacher specialists, and putting out whatever fire pops up. Every Monday is spent with my Superintendent and the Executive Leadership Team to discuss, plan, learn, and respond to issues that the departments and schools are facing. I am often traveling between the district office and the school sites. Approximately once a month, I spend time at the County Superintendent's office working with others in job-alike positions engaged in discussions about education in California.
What was your path to your current position, and what drove you to it?
If you had asked me when I started teaching where I thought I would end up, my answer would not have included administration or specifically, the district office. I initially made the decision to get my master's degree and administrative credential because it was the program that fit best in my schedule.
As an assistant principal, I focused a lot on testing and accountability; I loved to quantify what was and was not working in the classroom. I was promoted to Director of Assessment & Evaluation, working with 44 schools from kindergarten to adult school. I grew as an educator and developed a keen understanding of program evaluation at the district, state, and federal levels. After holding two directorships, I began working on my doctorate and branched out into other areas of education.
I finally became the "conductor," rather than the "first chair" with this position. I have increased flexibility because of the nature of the role and the district's pro-charter philosophy. I spend less time dealing with bureaucracy and more time working to improve the lives of students, teachers, and families.
What's the coolest thing you've been able to do in your career? What are you most proud of?
I spoke at State Board of Education meetings and presented at national conferences to people I consider to be rock stars of the education world. I was lucky enough to work at the high school I attended, to become colleagues with educators who influenced me as a student, and to award diplomas to the children of my classmates.
I am most proud of creating the state's first Women's Studies course for high school students. It provided an opportunity for students to learn American history through the female perspective. Prompted by student request, I sponsored a NOW high school chapter, an Equal Pay Day activity where we sold root beer floats to women for $0.76 and to men for $1.00, and a "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" through a partnership with my mom's work. I loved those days and have kept in contact with many of the students who enrolled in that course.
Looking back and connecting the dots, what's been some of the most formative decisions you've made for your career?
Volunteering for every committee or extra duty I had a remote interest in. That led me to learn how to be a project manager and how to delegate successfully. I worked with people outside my immediate circle of colleagues and engaged in learning unfamiliar topics. Solidifying my ability to write also opened many doors. Once people saw that I was a strong technical writer, the opportunities grew ten-fold. As I advance in my career, my writing skills pay off because many of my responsibilities include writing proposals and reports.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career in this field?
Be the best at what you are doing during the time you are in that position. The more experiences you have, the more credibility you will gain. Build a network: find mentors, create support groups, be a mentor, develop a group of colleagues with whom you learn. And don't forget, that every decision you make should be about what is best for the students - it's why we exist!
How has California Girls State and/or its alumnae community positively impacted your life and career?
As my career accelerated, my time with students kept diminishing. Volunteering with CAGS gave me the opportunity to reconnect with the young people I serve. It has allowed me to identify and respond to the needs of women transitioning from high school to college to career. It has reignited my passion for civic leadership.
CAGS has allowed me the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with remarkable women. The friendships and support during that time helped me focus on being the best Kimberly I could be. CAGS is a sisterhood that has forever shaped who I am.