COUNTYWIDE : Magazine Honors Three Educators

Three Orange County educators are included in a listing by The Executive Educator magazine of North America’s 100 best and brightest school executives.

Nominations were submitted by the magazine, the American School Board Journal and every major national association representing school management.

Members of the “Executive Educator 100” are responsible for programs of significant difference in their areas. Selection was based on 11 criteria including competence, success, innovation and leadership.

Principal Gwen E. Gross of El Morro Elementary School in Laguna Beach, Supt. Cynthia F. Grennan of Anaheim Union High School District and Supt. Ruben L. Ingram of Fountain Valley School District are among the 100.

Gross has seen a number of changes in her three years as principal at El Morro. The school has been tapped as a California Distinguished School and chosen as one of 287 exemplary schools nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education. Gross has started laser disc instruction, an instrumental music program and a museum outreach program.

In Anaheim, where Grennan has been superintendent for 11 years, the district has established a community-based education program that serves hundreds of non-English-speaking adults seeking citizenship, and an alcohol- and drug-abuse program with more than 250 trained counselors.

Ingram became superintendent of Fountain Valley School District in 1984, when the district was experiencing declining enrollment, reduced programs and deficit spending. Within two years, he led the school system to a balanced budget, according to the awards. He also upgraded the facilities, providing one computer for every nine students.