Arnold C. Plank, 67; Former Teacher Led Torrance School District
Arnold C. Plank, 67, who served as superintendent of the Torrance Unified School District from 1993 to 2002, died May 18 of pancreatic cancer at his Torrance home.
Plank began his four-decade career in education in 1960 as a teacher in Kansas. In 1962, he moved to California and began teaching at West High School in Torrance, where he later served as counselor, assistant principal and principal.
While Plank served as principal at West High, the school received California Distinguished School and National Exemplary School honors.
In 1985, Plank was promoted to assistant superintendent of the Torrance school district, and in 1993 he was appointed superintendent. The district operates 33 educational sites and provides instructional services to more than 24,000 K-12 students, including an adult education program.
Plank earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Kansas State University. He earned his PhD at USC.
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