Administration

James Morris, Ed.D.

County Administrator, Inglewood Unified School District

Dr. James Morris began his career in education forty-three years ago as a teacher and has served a principal, an assistant superintendent, Chief of Staff, Chief Operating Officer, and a variety of other administrative positions. After serving for thirty years in the Los Angeles Unified School District, he was selected as the Superintendent of the Fremont Unified School District where he served for 7 years. After retirement, he continued to serve in a variety of administrative roles. In January 2023, he accepted a position as County Administrator of the Inglewood Unified School District and is committed to helping the district exit receivership.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a Master's degree in Educational Administration, and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Cabinet Members

Raphael Guzman

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services / Chief Business Official

[email protected]

Mr. Guzman has over 15 years of experience in school district finance. Most recently, he served as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the Beverly Hills Unified School District. Prior to this role, Mr. Guzman was the Chief Business Official for the Inglewood Unified School District, where his team achieved several positive financial certifications, settled collective bargaining agreements, facilitated the implementation of a new bond measure, and advanced multiple construction and facilities projects. He also served as the Director of Fiscal Services at the Whittier City School District overseeing financial reporting, facilities accounting and planning, payroll, accounts payable, and budgeting. With various roles in school finance, Mr. Guzman brings extensive experience in many sectors of Business Services.

Before his career in school districts, Mr. Guzman served in the U.S. Marine Corps for over four years, specializing in personnel, payroll, and governmental accounting. He holds a B.S. in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Additionally, he completed the School Business Management Program at the University of Southern California (USC) and is a Certified Chief Business Official registered with the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).

Bernadette C. Lucas, Ed.D.

Chief Academic Officer

[email protected]

Bernadette Lucas has been an educator for over 28 years. She came to education through Teach For America (1991). She has most recently served as the Director of Technology for Beverly Hills Unified School District. She served in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 23 years as a Teacher, Title I Coordinator, Advisor and Assistant Director for a teacher credentialing program, Assistant Principal, Principal, Mentor Principal, and Director of Technology. She also teaches in the School Leadership Program at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Her career has been committed to equity, access, and social justice for all students. She is passionate about ensuring that each student has access to a world class education that prepares them to not only be successful, but to also thrive in a changing world. Dr. Lucas earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and her Master in Educational Leadership from California State University, Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Southern California in May 2019 with a Doctorate in K-12 Leadership.

Brian Coffey, Ed.D.

Chief Human Resources Officer

[email protected]

Dr. Brian Coffey has been an educator in the Inglewood Unified School District since 1997. In 2003 he was awarded the Bill Ellis Teaching Award from the National Center for Learning Disabilities for excellence in practice and a commitment to students with learning and attention issues. In 2008, he earned a Doctor of Education Degree from USC’s Rossier School of Education, with a focus on Teacher Education.

Dr. Coffey served as Principal of Kelso Elementary School from 2012-2019, and helped convert Beulah Payne Elementary to Payne P-8 STEAM Academy during his tenure as the school's Principal from 2019-2023. He has been a Board Member of the Inglewood Educational Foundation since 2012, and this year served as Secretary of the Inglewood Management Association. In addition, he is a Lecturer at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills.

District Leadership Team
^{Jordan Miles} ^{Deputy Chief Facilities Planning & Construction Officer} ^{[email protected]}	^{Mike Orona} ^{Deputy Chief Maintenance & Operations Officer} ^{[email protected]}
^{Dr. Ugema Hosea-James} ^{Deputy Chief Academic Officer} ^{[email protected]}	^{Dr. Dawnyell Goolsby} ^{Executive Director Federal and State Programs} ^{[email protected]}
^{Jessica Ochoa} ^{Executive Director Communications and Community Relations} ^{[email protected]}	^{Latonya Southall} ^{Executive Director Special Education} ^{[email protected]}
^{Renee Wohlgemuth} ^{Executive Director Risk Management} ^{[email protected]}	^{Julio Morales} ^{Executive Director Technology} ^{[email protected]}
^{Martin J. Sissac} ^{Interim Director of Safety and Student Support} ^{[email protected]}	^{Siddhant Bhatta} ^{Interim Chief Business Official} ^{[email protected]}
^{Faye Armstrong} ^{Director Food Services} ^{[email protected]}	^{Dr. Joanna Clifton} ^{Director Early Education} ^{[email protected]}
^{Tiffany Egan} ^{Director Human Resources [email protected]}	^{Shanti Prasad} ^{Director Educational Technology} ^{[email protected]}
^{Debra Tate} ^{Director of Community Schools} ^{[email protected]}	^{Nayeli Chacon} ^{Director English Language Learners} ^{[email protected]}
^{LaTonya Babin} ^{Director Expanded Learning Programs} ^{[email protected]}