Austin Beutner

Superintendent

Los Angeles Unified School District

THE LATEST: On March 13, Beutner announced the closure of all LAUSD schools due to the spread of novel coronavirus; at the time, it was the largest school district in the nation to shut down. Courses shifted to online learning and through Public Broadcasting System affiliate KCET/KOCE. Last October, Beutner launched a joint program with city of Los Angeles to connect 10 LAUSD high schools with foreign consulates in Los Angeles to introduce students to diplomacy and global affairs.

BACKGROUND: A former investment banker, Beutner was chosen in May 2018 to lead the nation's second-largest school district, with 587,000 enrolled students, 25,000 teachers and 66, 000 total employees. Beutner previously served as co-chairman of the Los Angeles Unified School District Advisory Task Force. He was first deputy mayor of Los Angeles under Antonio Villaraigosa and publisher of The Los Angeles Times. Beutner was Blackstone Group's youngest partner and founded investment banking advisory firm Evercore Partners.

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