Meet Our Consultants - Biography of Edna E. Davis Herring

Edna E. Davis Herring is the Superintendent of Rialto Unified School District, the 35th largest school district of more than 1,000 in the State of California. The District's student enrollment is approximately 30,000; employees number more than 3,800, and the budget is approximately $200 million. Her primary responsibility to the District is to provide the leadership necessary for all students to experience access, excellence, and equity in education, as well as a safe and secure learning environment.

Edna's career in education spans more than thirty-four years. Following twelve years as a Spanish and English teacher at the community college and secondary school levels, she ventured into administration. One of her most rewarding experiences was a five-year stint as Principal of Eisenhower High School in Rialto. This ethnically diverse high school of more than 3,200 students and 250 staff members achieved national and state recognition for academic excellence during her leadership. "Ike" was among 203 of 489 contenders to receive the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Award, among the top 40 in the State to receive the California Distinguished Schools Award, and among the top five in the Nation to receive the Hispanic -Ryder National School of Excellence Award.

Prior to her return to Rialto in 2002, Edna served as Inaugural Principal of Century Middle School for four years, project funded at more than $16 million, and as Director of Student Services in the Office of Curriculum and Instruction for three years in the Adams Twelve Five Star School District, Northglenn, Colorado.

She was Region I Professional Accountability Program Coordinator in the Office of Research and Development for the Louisiana Department of Education in Baton Rouge. There she traveled throughout New Orleans Parish training new and experienced teachers and administrators on the Louisiana Teacher Assessment Program. Also, she traveled throughout the State monitoring districts' teacher evaluation procedures.

Edna's demand for excellence and her deep commitment to the growth and development of all young people, complimented by awards earned by the schools she has led, garnered her personal and professional recognition. She was selected 2004 ACSA (Association of California School Administrators) Region 12 “Superintendent of the Year” for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties (59 Districts); Riverside Black Women's Leadership Forum, 2003 “Sapphire Award” for Excellence in Education; 2002 Rialto Chapter of Business and Professional Women's "Woman of Achievement"; 2002 "Friend of Foreign Language Teachers", an award bestowed on only one individual or organization each year in the State of Colorado; and 1993 San Bernardino Black Cultural Foundation “Humanitarian of the Year”.

She earned the M. Ed. Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Diego and the B.A. Degree in Spanish from Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina. She holds administrative credentials in California and Colorado. Edna pursued graduate studies in Salamanca, Spain, and Guadalajara, Mexico. She has experienced extensive leadership training to include the North Central Accreditation Association Leadership Institute, Rockefeller Brothers Institute for Educational Leadership, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Executive Leadership Institute, Harvard University and ACSA Principals' Center, the ACSA Personnel Academy, the California School Leadership Academy, and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Administrators' Training.

Membership in professional and civic organizations include: Eta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Riverside-San Bernardino; San Bernardino Valley Chapter of Links, Inc.; California Association of African-American Superintendents; Kiwanis; Rialto Chamber of Commerce; Association of California School Administrators; Board Member for the Arrowhead United Way and Rialto Boys and Girls Club.