Penelope A. DeLeon

As a public-school educator for nearly 26 years, Dr. DeLeon has served as a high school teacher, assistant principal, principal, Secondary Instructional Specialist, Director of Professional Development/ Assessment and Evaluation, Interim Director of Elementary Education and Chief of Secondary Schools, before first becoming Superintendent of the Oxnard Union High School District and now Glendora Unified School District.

Dr. DeLeon earned her doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of La Verne, as well as master’s degrees in secondary education and educational administration, and recently completed a post-doctoral program at Stanford University in the Executive Program for Educational Leaders. She has also been certified as a leadership coach by the Association of California School Administrators and holds a School Business Management Certificate. Dr. DeLeon has served on the College Board Advisory Council, and the Board of Directors for the California Linked Learning Alliance. In 2018, she was selected as the ACSA Region 13 Superintendent of the Year and named a 2020 Top 10 Women Superintendents to Watch for ‘Vision and Purpose’ Magazine.

Before coming to Glendora, Dr. DeLeon led her previous district in their efforts to ensure multiple post-secondary options and powerful futures for every child, through the development of a strong college and career readiness focus, and systems of support which provide equity and access to rigorous curricula for all students. Some of their notable accomplishments; increasing enrollment in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, as well as pass rate; increasing college and university applications; increasing the percentage of students who complete the FAFSA; increasing the percentage of students who meet the A-G requirements; increasing the graduation rate and decreasing the drop-out rate. Dr. DeLeon also led a successful bond campaign which brought $350 million dollars of school facilities funding to the district.

Throughout her career, Dr. DeLeon has worked to close the achievement gap by nurturing strong parent and community engagement, while promoting a culture of collaboration, support and collegiality for all stakeholders.