THE TEAM
Where the Passion Begins
The Education Experts, LLC has a team of exceptional and results-driven leaders who love to work with our growing clientele. Our team is eager to learn, open to new ideas and technologies and adaptable to the fast-changing and increasingly complex business environment. In addition to these team members, The Education Experts, LLC has additional subject area content experts that provide support on specific projects. Read below to learn more about our exceptional core team.
DR. CANDI CLARK
President and CEO
Dr. Candi Clark is the founder and President/CEO of The Education Experts, LLC. Prior to serving as President/CEO, Dr. Clark was the Chief Financial Officer for the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). LACOE is the nation's largest regional education agency serving more than 1.5 million students and over 100 school districts, community colleges, and charter schools in Los Angeles County.
With a team of over 450 employees, Dr. Clark was responsible for the administrative, business, budgetary, financial, facilities, and construction services throughout LACOE. Dr. Clark also managed the business advisory services and fiscal oversight of the county's school districts, community colleges, and charter schools including the administration of payroll services totaling over $20 billion dollars annually. She also has significant experience in dealing with distressed school districts, budget reductions and system realignment to strategic priorities.
Dr. Clark has nearly 20 years of leadership experience in government and business operations. Her background includes: K-12, county office of education, community colleges, institutions of higher learning, and state agency experience. Prior to joining LACOE, Dr. Clark served as Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the Castro Valley Unified School District. In this role, she oversaw the district’s largest division that included: maintenance, operations, transportation, facilities, child nutrition, purchasing, technology, employee benefits, accounting, and finance. Dr. Clark has developed and managed multi-billion dollar budgets utilizing best business practices. She has also taught school finance at the university level and conducted educational seminars both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Clark earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership Administration and Policy from Pepperdine University, a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Belhaven University. Dr. Clark completed a national superintendent certification program and is also a Certified Chief Business Official through the California Association of School Business Officials.
DR. MARIBEL GALAN
Vice President of Education & Learning
Dr. Maribel Galan is the Vice President of Education & Learning at The Education Experts, LLC where she leads the strategy and implementation of the organization's programmatic partnerships with district and charter partners across the country. Her efforts are focused on developing strong school systems and reinventing professional development for teachers, school leaders, and district senior leadership.
With over 20 years experience, Dr. Galan has been a superintendent with expertise in setting up systems and coaching for TK-12 school leaders as well as designing data driven professional development for new and veteran teachers and administrators. She brings a deep knowledge with validated experiences in leadership, governance, policy development, school design, student-centered learning strategies, financial management, talent management and strategic planning. Dr. Galan has experience in leading the implementation of innovative instructional programs including the launch of dual immersion programs, academic and social emotional interventions, ELD, VAPA and STEAM programs. She has worked with school districts and charter schools to align resources to LCAP goals, and to ensure policies and procedures are followed.
Dr. Galan also served as an elementary school principal where the API quickly increased by 118 points under her leadership. She previously served as Senior Director of School Transformation at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools serving the lowest performing schools in high poverty communities.
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Dr. Galan holds a bachelor’s degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a master's in Education and Administration from California State University of Dominguez Hills and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration & Policy from Pepperdine University. Dr. Galan has also taught at the university level.
DR. DARRICK SMITH
Director of Transformative School Leadership
The Education Experts, LLC recognizes a need to have leaders with critical content expertise in culturally responsive discipline practices. Recognized a national leader, Dr. Darrick Smith is one of our foremost experts. Dr. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of San Francisco and Co-Director of the School of Education’s new Transformative School Leadership (TSL) program. His experience is in culturally responsive discipline practices, critical pedagogy, transformative school leadership, and social justice schooling.
Dr. Smith is the founder and former Director of the TryUMF (pronounced "triumph") program in Oakland, CA and formerly served as the Co-Director/Principal of the June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco. He has served as a trainer and administrative coach in local school districts as well a Center Director under the Foundation for California Community Colleges- the system for which he still consults as a trainer for the statewide Professional Learning Network. Nationally, Dr. Smith currently serves as a national consultant for the Now is the Time Technical Assistance (NITT-TA) Center funded through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and was recently an advisor to The "Centre of Reflexive Education and Intrapersonal Development" project in Warsaw, Poland.
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Dr. Smith’s pathway has led him to speak at a number of national and statewide conferences on issues of educational reform as well as work in California’s correctional facilities while maintaining his lifelong dedication to reform efforts in the Greater Bay Area of Northern California. Such experience has shaped both his research and pedagogy for the last 20 years. Dr. Smith has numerous publications and continues to teach students at the university level.
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Dr. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a master's degree in Humanities-Social Change and Activism from The New College of California and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from San Francisco State University.
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DR. ANTOINE HAWKINS
Senior Advisor
Dr. Antoine Hawkins serves as Senior Advisor for The Education Experts, LLC. Dr. Hawkins has over 20 years of experience in K-12 schools including 12 years of experience as a Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and Chief Business Official. His tenure as a cabinet level professional has given him the opportunity to lead school reform efforts in Primary and Secondary educational programs (K-12), Adult Education, Early Head Start/Head Start, Mental Health, labor management, and school business management.
Passionate about building great educational organizations and committed to supporting student success, Dr. Hawkins has worked with executive staff to develop Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP) that were designed to connect curriculum, instruction, and funding with student needs. In order to serve students and address educational inequities, Dr. Hawkins has restructured district operations that yielded significant cost savings and expenditure control across divisions. This includes technology advancements such as increased student internet access, assignment of one-to-one computer devices, new facility construction, upgraded HVAC systems, advanced security systems, and campus beautification projects.
Dr. Hawkins has administered K-12 district operating budgets ranging from $20M to $75M and $10M to $30M in facilities construction. He has also managed complex systems with teams of over 300 employees. Dr. Hawkins has managed various divisions including: Business Services, Accounting Services, Budget Development and Forecasting, Maintenance and Operations, Information Technology, Facilities, Attendance Accounting, Risk Management, Transportation, Child Nutrition Services, Warehouse, Mental Health Services, Adult Education, and Contracts.
Dr. Hawkins holds bachelor's degree in Management from California Coast University, a master's degree in Business Administration from the Touro College and University System and a doctorate in Transformational Leadership from Bakke Graduate University. He is also a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Urban Superintendent Program and is a Certified Chief Business Official through the California Association of School Business Officials. Dr. Hawkins has also served as an adjunct professor of business at the college level.
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GIA FISHER
Senior Advisor
Gia Fisher is a 30+ year global technology leader. Throughout her career, Gia has spearheaded security network operations, security integrations (inclusive with Cyber Security Threat Intelligence), disaster recovery plans and maintenance efforts. She has worked with clients to orchestrate effective information technology initiatives that facilitate innovation to improve business processes and develop valued products and services in anticipation of customer needs. Gia is truly an effective leader who understands the full spectrum of business requirements and drives technical application/infrastructure roadmaps to meet client needs.
Critical areas of Gia’s experience include: implementing IT Due Diligence of security operations centers, evaluation of application architecture, vulnerably assessments, 3rd party vendor risk and security and forecasting & trend analysis of vertical markets that are prone to advanced attacks.
Gia holds a bachelor of science in Management from National Louis University and a Presidential and Key Executive MBA from Pepperdine University.
DR. JULIUS STEELE
Senior Advisor
The Education Experts, LLC is pleased to announce that Dr. Julius Steele has joined our winning team. Dr. Steele has 30 years of experience in education ranging from teacher to principal to director . Most recently, Dr. Steele retired after a long career as Director of Special Education and SELPA in a California school district. His background allows our organization to really dig deep and determine how to develop successful special needs programs. Dr. Steele has experience in program development with an emphasis on innovation to assure successful outcomes. He is able to evaluate existing processes, draft proposals for new programs and implement constructive improvements to existing programs.
Dr. Steele is experienced in all phases of personnel supervision and management of special education staff including screening, evaluations training and staff development. He is a proven leader with the ability to build and motivate staff. The IEP process is a sensitive time for all parties involved. With Dr. Steele’s background, our team can provide training on skills related to parent counseling, mediation and intervention with an emphasis on facilitating relationships to assure mutually beneficial outcomes. He also has significant experience with special education and SELPA funding, budget development including drafting initial budgets and renewal of grant applications.
Dr. Steele holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Safety and Physical Education from Northwestern State University, a master’s degree in Special Education and Behavior Management from Louisiana Tech University, a specialist’s degree in Educational Leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona State University. Dr. Steele teaches and also oversees the special education intern program at the university level. He also completed the ACSA Superintendents Academy.
MARCUS BATTLE
Senior Advisor
Mr. Marcus Battle is an experienced, certified school business management professional with over 20 years of school district business experience in a variety of districts, ranging in size from as large as 125,000 in enrollment to as small as 3,500. The operating budgets managed under Mr. Battle’s leadership have ranged from $$50 million to $560 million. Marcus has also managed a capital facilities bond program totaling over $500 million.
Marcus has extensive experience in planning, directing, organizing, and coordinating the activities of multiple business functions including business process improvement, cost containment, revenue enhancement, change management, and strategic realignment. Some of Mr. Battle’s additional accomplishments include implementing stronger internal controls and accountability in fiscal management practices and procedures resulting in a turnaround of multiple prior year audit findings to zero findings.
Mr. Battle holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a Finance concentration from the University of Baltimore, a master's degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a doctorate certificate in Organizational Leadership from North Central University. He is also a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School Business Management Program and is a Certified Chief Business Official through the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).
HEIDI SMITH
Senior Advisor
Heidi Smith has an extensive background in literacy development, writing instruction and early enrichment opportunities focusing on students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Ms. Smith's experience extends to Director of English-language learner (ELL) programs. She has also overseen federal funding designated for economically disadvantaged students and English learners.
Ms. Smith previously served as a principal in the East Bay and under her leadership, the school was recognized as a California Distinguished School, and received the National Blue Ribbon School award for its high performance. In 2016, she was one of seven principals in the nation to receive the Terrel H. Bell award -- which recognizes principals for playing a "vital role" in student achievement, even under frequently challenging circumstances, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Smith is no stranger to academic reform and turnaround school strategies. As principal in a New York school, Ms. Smith moved a low performing school to high achieving. By the time she had left, the school had made strides towards improving student achievement, and was rated "highly effective" by U.S. Secretary of Education John King, who was New York's commissioner of education at the time.
Ms. Smith earned an bachelor's degree from Molloy College and a master's degree in writing instruction from Hofstra University. Currently she is pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of Southern California.
DR. ROSA E. CORONADO
Senior Advisor
After a thriving career in County Office of Education leadership, including Human Resources, Student Services, State and Federal Programs, The Education Experts, LLC is pleased to welcome Dr. Rosa E. Coronado to the team. As a motivated, results-oriented collaborator, Dr. Coronado’s background in County Office Human Resources allows us to support school districts, charter schools and county offices of education. With experience as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, she has expertise in planning, organizing, and administering Human Resources functions including all aspects of employee-employer relations.
Dr. Coronado has extensive experience in supporting English Learners and Foster/Homeless/Migrant students. Dr. Coronado was chair of the California Department of Education (CDE) Migrant Education Program Regional Directors’ Council and has served on the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) committees on Student Programs Personnel Services. Additionally, Dr. Coronado was responsible for serving as the Public Information Officer which included responsibility for the accomplishment of comprehensive communications and marketing of services and programs.
Dr. Coronado holds a bachelor's degree in History from San Jose State University, a master's degree in Urban High School Leadership from San Jose State University, and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Social Justice from California State University, East Bay. Dr. Coronado has also taught at the university level.
DR. GABRIEL MCCURTIS
Senior Advisor
Since joining our team, Dr. Gabriel McCurtis has played a crucial role in the continued success of the business. His exceptional skill set, true passion and creativity has inspired massive growth. Dr. McCurtis became a public school teacher in 1981 and continued teaching for 10 years. In 1991, he became an administrator in the public school system where he was the principal at all levels of the K-12 system. Dr. McCurtis has also served as the superintendent of a public school district. During his tenure as superintendent, Dr. McCurtis led the efforts to turnaround a school system on the verge of state takeover. He successfully navigated through the district's academic and fiscal crisis to stabilize the district and start focusing on academic rigor. Through his efforts, a school district that once had the highest drop-out rate in the county, now has the highest graduation rate in the county.
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In 2000, Dr. McCurtis founded the Total Man International Network, Inc. (TMINI), a 501c3 non-profit organization with the intent of assisting people of emerging countries to enhance their lives through education and community economic development. Dr. McCurtis travels extensively to Haiti, Panama, Brazil, and Peru and the continent of Africa.
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Dr. McCurtis holds a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Psychology and a minor in Physical Education, a master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of California and a doctorate in Christian Education with a focus in Educational Leadership from Calvary Chapel University. Dr. McCurtis is currently pursuing a doctorate in Strategic Leadership at Southeastern University.
FRANK KWAN
Senior Advisor
Frank Kwan creates innovative communication solutions to the complex issues facing school districts. He offers award-winning expertise gained by working with schools in Los Angeles County, and across the United States. As the past Director of Communications for the Los Angeles County Office of Education for more than 25 years, he provided strategic communications counsel and direction for the nation’s largest regional K-12 public schools agency.
Mr. Kwan specialized in school finance communications strategies, using infographics, animation and video. He also developed major initiatives, crisis and emergency communications, media relations, digital media, business and community partnerships, and oversight of the County’s school trustees’ association. His workshops for national and local school board trustees, superintendents, communications professionals and parent organizations have been highly rated for their simplicity in using real-life effective practices.
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Frank’s has been recognized by the Public Relations Society of America for a diversity campaign, the National School Public Relations Association for video projects, the California School Public Relations Association for newsletters, the Los Angeles Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with four Emmys, and the National Education Association for education programming excellence.
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In addition to working with schools in Los Angeles County, Frank has consulted with districts in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Canada. Frank holds an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), has been a National PTA board member, and a senior lecturer at the University of Southern California.
BRENDA LIGHTFOOT
Senior Advisor
Brenda Lightfoot is one of our senior advisors, with an eye for what makes a school business succeed. With years in the business, Ms. Lightfoot has seen it all in the world of Child Nutrition- and is ready to lead you on the path to success.
Brenda has over 21 years of experience in the food service and hospitality industry. Ms. Lightfoot has held Director of Child Nutrition positions in school districts throughout California. She has successfully guided school districts through the USDA Healthier Schools Challenge and completed many Child Nutrition administrative reviews. Ms. Lightfoot has also taught Child Menu Design - Meal Planning for Public Schools at Fresno City College and has an extensive knowledge of food safety, state and federal food and nutrition regulations and grant processes. She brings creative ideas and a work ethic of excellence to the districts that she serves.
Besides her experience in K-12 schools, Ms. Lightfoot, has a wide range of experiences including: Program Manager for Banquets and Special Events, Catering Manager at the corporate and private level, Innkeeper and Cook. These experiences have contributed to her experience in developing healthy and effective nutrition programs for schools and her on-going desire to serve the school districts, healthcare and secondary educational clients she collaborates with.
Ms. Lightfoot holds an associate degree of Science and Certificate of Completion from the Hotel and Restaurant Program from City College of San Francisco and the American Culinary Federation, a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University and a master's degree in Education with an emphasis in Higher Education, Administration and Supervision from California State University, Fresno. Ms. Lightfoot has held officer positions with the California State Nutrition Association (CSNA) and the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).
WAEL ELATAR
Senior Advisor
Mr. Elatar has over 28 years experience as an executive manager in both, the private and the public sectors. Mr. Elatar has worked in the capacity of Assistant Superintendent of Business Services & Chief Business Official for the last eight years in California school districts. In such capacity, Mr. Elatar oversaw the business and administration divisions including the following departments: facilities & energy management, maintenance & operations, transportation, nutrition services, fiscal & accounting, purchasing, technology, employee benefits & risk management.
Mr. Elatar’s prior experience also includes serving for seven years as the Administrator of Facilities, Maintenance & Operations and Transportation. In this role, he oversaw the capital program with a 5-year one billion dollars budget, largest state financial hardship program and one of the largest contracted school transportation program in California. In the last decade, Mr. Elatar has been successfully involved in the passage of three Facilities general obligation bonds.
In the private sector, Mr. Elatar’s last assignment was serving as Vice President of Operations, for a major transportation company with over $100 million in annual revenue and 15 major public transportation contracts with public transportation agencies over multiple states.
Mr. Elatar is a graduate of University of Southern California with a bachelor of science in Civil Engineering. He also holds a master’s degree in Engineering Management from West Coast University.
CARLETTA M. LOFLIN
Senior Advisor
Carletta Loflin has 20 years of extensive experience in leadership, in the area of Human Resources. Ms. Loflin’s background includes recruitment, employee relations, operations manager, and learning and development. She has been in senior management and decision making roles for Fortune 500 and 100 companies. Throughout her career, she has had oversight of full cycle of recruitment, on boarding and off boarding implementation, performance management cycle, employee relations, and EEO compliance.
Carletta holds a B.S in Business Administration with emphases in Finance from University of Phoenix and a Masters in Business Management with emphases in Human Resource Management and Organizational Development from Azusa Pacific University. As well as, she has a certification in Project Management from University of La Verne.
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ASHANTI CLAYTON
Director, Special Projects
The Education Experts is pleased to introduce Ashanti Clayton, Director of Special Projects. Joining us from Stanford Medicine Partners, Ashanti is responsible for the day-to-day operations to ensure smooth sailing for our team and clients alike.
Ashanti's administrative and project management experience spans across the following industries: tech, education and healthcare. In these organizations, Ashanti lent her skill set to support Department Managers, Directors and C-level Executives. Engaging in cross-functional processes and projects. Ashanti provides support to our team in order to meet action items and deliverables, which include: project planning and tracking, timeline mapping, implementing program phases, data collection/analysis and presenting on program/project progress.
Ashanti received her bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from San Francisco State University (SFSU). Her academic accomplishments at SFSU afforded her the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at the University of Amsterdam (Holland) via the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program.