Billings Elevated to Superintendent Post

Jan Billings, who was previously director of instructional services for the Anaheim Union High School District, has been appointed superintendent to succeed Cynthia F. Grennan, who retired Feb. 7.

Billings, 57, began her career with Anaheim Union 30 years ago as an English and history teacher at Magnolia High School. She was appointed superintendent Thursday by the Board of Trustees, which conducted an in-house search for Grennan’s replacement.

Billings “has a proven track record,” board President R.A. “Molly” McGee said, adding that the trustees were impressed with Billings’ “powerful vision” for improving academic performance in the district and meeting the needs of a culturally diverse student body.

Members of Solevar Community Development Corp., a nonprofit Latino group, had maintained that, because Anaheim Union has a predominantly Latino student population, the new superintendent should be Latino.

“We are tired of our sons and daughters being neglected, not being provided a relevant education within this school district and being pushed out to the streets,” Solevar executive director Seferino Garcia told the trustees.

Billings vowed to work closely with community groups. One of her goals, she said, is “to see to it that all of our children achieve success academically.”