LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)
During a recent speech at Loyola Marymount University, John Deasy recalled his promotion from deputy superintendent to chief of Los Angeles Unified two years ago, tasked with turning around a district plagued by failing schools, struggling students and an epidemic of dropouts.
"I agreed to take this job and lead a transformation of the Los Angeles Unified public schools," Deasy told the group of education leaders. "And I kept a very simple contract with the Board of Education: The day that four of you are unhappy, drop me a note and this is over.
"In the meantime, I am going to move very quickly to honor youth rights so that every single one can graduate, college- or career-ready. Not some. Not most. But everyone."
The reforms that Deasy enacted - and just how aggressively he's pursued them - have put the fast-talking New