Zacarias Bows Out Amid Tributes

Like a hero returning to his hometown, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ruben Zacarias spent his last day on the job Friday reading to students and counseling teachers at the modest Boyle Heights school he attended as a boy 65 years ago.

“This is where it all started, and this is where I want it to end,” the 71-year-old veteran said before getting down to the business of reading “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss to a kindergarten class at Breed Street Elementary School.

It was not a morning for discussion of the many controversies--from school construction to educational performance--that brought his tenure to an early end. Instead, Zacarias struck an inspirational tone.

Wearing a tailored charcoal-colored suit like the one he wore on his first day at work as a teacher at the concrete, two-story school in 1966, he told a class of fourth-graders: “When I see you, I see myself.”

“Had anyone said, ‘See that little kid over there? One day he’s going to be superintendent of schools and an advisor to the president of the United States,’ ” he recalled, “anyone listening would have responded, ‘Not that East Los Angeles kid. He barely speaks English.’

“But here I am, so I beg you to keep studying,” he said. “Who in this class is going to take my place?”

Twenty hands shot skyward.

A career-long school district employee, Zacarias left office feeling no need to apologize for his 2 1/2 years as superintendent but was clearly mindful of the political controversy that had brought him to this day.

In an interview after his visit to the school, as he prepared to pack proclamations, plaques and paintings in his wood-paneled office downtown, Zacarias offered some advice for whoever replaces him after interim Supt. Ramon C. Cortines’ term ends in June.

“Clearly define the responsibilities and limitations of the Board of Education,” he said. “The working relationship between the superintendent and board has been a continuing problem here and across the nation.”

Beyond that, “like anyone who has finished a tour of duty, I’ve asked myself, ‘Are things better off than when I arrived?’ The answer is yes.”

Scanning a prepared list of 33 achievements, he declared that “it’s all here.”

“Student test scores have increased by 2 percentile points per year, student and teacher attendance is up across the district, 68 of the 100 lowest-performing schools improved student achievement, I’ve opened four primary care centers since 1998.

“But that’s not to say our work is finished; we’ve got a long ways to go before our kids even perform at the state average,” he said.

“If I have a regret, it’s that I didn’t have more time to finish the initiatives I started,” he said. “It’s funny. The Board of Education said my administration wasn’t working quickly enough. Now, the same board members are saying it will take six to eight years to turn the district around.”

When he was appointed superintendent in May 1997, Zacarias, who had worked at every level in the system--temporary preschool instructor, teacher, principal, regional administrator, deputy superintendent--vowed that he would improve student performance by making principals and teachers personally responsible for declining school achievement.

But critics claimed that much of the progress he made was incremental and, some suggested, lackluster. He never appeared to convince the board that he could move the mammoth district bureaucracy toward the goals he had set. Ultimately, in a public battle with the board that galvanized Eastside Latinos and dominated headlines for much of the fall, Zacarias was forced to accept a buyout. He has said he is now entertaining several options and plans to remain active in educational projects.

But on Friday, even his opponents were in a complimentary mood. “If there’s one thing of his legacy that impacted kids more than anything else,” said school board member Caprice Young, one of those who had voted to remove Zacarias, “it was his willingness to attempt the impossible: Implement class-size reduction within two years throughout the 711,000-student district.”

At Breed Street Elementary, the praise was even warmer.

“Mr. Zacarias knows what it means to help kids be better,” said Ruben Jaimes, 10. “When I grow up, I’m going to be a teacher, then a principal, then a superintendent.”

Zacarias’ appearance at the school built in 1881 provided the parents and teachers who have devoted their lives to the close-knit campus--and the superintendent’s legacy--an opportunity to show their respect for a favorite son.

At a surprise school-wide morning send-off party, one teacher called Zacarias a symbol of “a man who is proud of his roots, a great educator and a perfect gentleman. Always a gentleman.”

Against a backdrop of the Los Angeles skyline, 790 students sat quietly on the playground blacktop as representatives of each grade took turns addressing Zacarias.

“You’ve been an outstanding role model for us and inspired us to be better people,” said fifth-grader Gladys Diaz.

The entire first-grade class stood, placed their right hands over their hearts and pledged to “uphold the highest standards of achievement!”

Principal Katty Iriarte, who organized the party for her old friend, closed the gathering by announcing: “We’re not saying goodbye. We’re saying, ‘Welcome home, Ruben.’ ”

Shortly after the assembly broke up and the children began to file back to class, 8-year-old Debora Rios ran up to the superintendent, tugged on his sleeve and said: “Mr. Zacarias, I have something to tell you! You inspired me to read and do my homework. I’ll always remember you in my heart.”

“Dame un abrazo, give me a hug,” Zacarias said. “You validate the hope of every teacher: to make a difference in a child’s life.”

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Ruben Zacarias’ Career

Ruben Zacarias rose through the Los Angeles Unified School District from student to teacher to superintendent.

1966: Began his work in L.A. Unified as a teacher at his alma mater, Breed Street School. He had worked at various jobs, including billboard salesman. He returned as principal in 1975.

1973: Received a masters degree in school administration and supervision from Cal State L.A. 1981: Received a doctorate in multicultural education from the University of San Francisco.

1982: Became one of a dozen regional L.A. Unified superintendents.

1986: Moved up to associate superintendent of school operations.

1992: Elevated to deputy superintendent.

May 1997: Became superintendent on a 5-2 vote that followed spirited competition and public hearings around the city. He was the fourth superintendent in 10 years, the first fluent Spanish speaker and only the second Latino to serve as superintendent. He signed a three-year contract for $178,000 per year, $11,000 more than his predecessor. Took office July 1.

September 1999: Board of Education appointed Howard Miller to new position of facilities reform executive to revamp the management of school construction and maintenance.

October 1999: School board appointed Miller as chief executive. Zacarias rejected the appointment as unworkable.

November 1999: Board agreed to buy out Zacarias contract and appoint Ramon Cortines as interim superindentent.