Pomona schools superintendent approved for Obama administration post

WASHINGTON - Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, superintendent of the Pomona Unified School District, has been approved as assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, according to information from the U.S. Senate Web site.

The Senate approved her on Friday night. Melendez de Santa Ana was nominated for the post on May 20 by President Barack Obama.

At that time, California schools chief Jack O'Connell congratulated her on her nomination.

"I could not be more pleased that the President has selected Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana for such a key post in his administration," he said in a statement.

"She is a highly respected educator whose commitment and passion for helping students inspires everyone who works with her," he said. "Her motto of 'Respect, Responsibility, and Results' for every student, parent, and educator are key to improving student achievement. ... "I look forward to continued collaboration with her and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on our efforts in California to improve public education and close the achievement gap."

Melendez de Santa Ana earned a bachelor cum laude in sociology from UCLA. As a Title VII Fellow, she earned a Ph.D. in language, literacy & learning from the Rossier School of Education at USC.

Melendez de Santa Ana has worked in the Montebello and Pasadena school districts as a bilingual teacher, a middle school assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, an elementary school principal and director of instruction for elementary and middle schools.