Newport-Mesa Unified School District appoints John Drake as new assistant superintendent

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District announced Thursday that it has appointed John Drake, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, as its assistant superintendent.

Drake will succeed current Supt. Russell Lee-Sung, who was appointed in early August after exiting Supt. Fred Navarro announced his retirement in June. Drake will also be the chief academic officer. Drake has been with the district for 10 years, serving in various capacities as director of certificated personnel; director of curriculum and instruction and, as of 2018, acting assistant superintendent, chief academic officer.

This is Drake’s formal appointment to his position.

“I have had the privilege to work closely with Mr. Drake and am highly impressed with his ability to lead teams to consensus through positive relationships and collaborative approaches,” Lee-Sung said in a statement. “It’s not only what he does but how he does it; always with a calm demeanor and a purposeful vision.”

The district said that Drake was instrumental in the implementation of a collaborative instructional materials adoption process and provided resources and support to teachers for implementation of a math “experience” for transitional kindergarten through 12th grade that he led the development of.

Drake received his master’s in education administration and supervision from the University of West Georgia and a bachelor’s in English from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He also graduated from Estancia High School, a Newport-Mesa school.

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