Dr. Sandra Lee, a distinguished educator and forward-thinking leader with a proven track record of advancing student achievement, has been selected as OCDE’s new associate superintendent of Educational Services. She will officially join the department on Monday, Feb. 3.
Lee’s 19-year career spans roles as a teacher, literacy coach, principal, director, consultant and professor, with impactful contributions made in literacy development, strategic planning and curriculum design.
“Her work has earned recognition at the local, state and national levels, underscoring her commitment to innovation and her talent for engaging and inspiring teams to achieve shared goals,” Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean said.
Bean said the selection followed a comprehensive process that included leaders from the department’s Educational Services division and members of its executive cabinet. He noted that it also reflects feedback from local superintendents and other educational partners who have highlighted the need to enhance instructional support and improve learning outcomes for all students.
“Through multiple rounds of interviews, Dr. Lee’s passion for education and her ability to inspire and lead stood out, making her the ideal choice for this critical role,” he said.
The appointment comes on the heels of a recent restructuring of Educational Services into two distinct divisions, aimed at sharpening OCDE’s focus on supporting both academic achievement and student well-being.
With Lee overseeing the Educational Services division, Associate Superintendent Dr. Sonia Llamas will lead the newly created Student Services division, drawing on her expertise to advance initiatives that promote mental health, foster positive school climates and enhance overall student well-being.
“I feel that every step of my career has led to this incredible opportunity to join OCDE as the associate superintendent of Educational Services,” Lee said. “It is a privilege to work alongside such talented educational professionals and our district and community partners. Together, we can create transformative opportunities for every student to thrive and succeed.”
Career and education
Lee began her career in 2006 as a teacher at Aspire Public Schools in Huntington Park, where she developed a customized curriculum for English language learners and implemented data-informed practices to refine teaching approaches. She later served as a lead literacy specialist and Response to Intervention coordinator for Aspire, introducing programs that boosted literacy and math performance district-wide.
In 2012, she became principal at Antonio Maria Lugo Academy in Huntington Park, where she supported enhanced literacy instruction and oversaw substantial gains in student performance, including a doubling of proficiency rates in English language arts and math. After returning to Aspire as director of curriculum, instruction and assessment in 2016, Lee led district-wide improvements in literacy practices, strategic planning and professional learning initiatives across 11 schools.
As principal at Westhoff Elementary in the Walnut Valley Unified School District from 2019 to 2022, she led the school to rank among the top elementary schools nationally, with 80 percent of students performing at or above grade level in English language arts and math. Westhoff also earned national recognition for its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and was designated a Project Lead the Way Distinguished School.
More recently, Lee has served as an educational consultant, partnering with districts across Los Angeles and Orange counties to implement strategic initiatives. At the same time, she has been an adjunct professor at California State University, Los Angeles since 2018, preparing future educators to support diverse learners.
Education and family
Lee holds an educational doctorate in literacy, a master’s degree in the science of reading and a bachelor’s degree in child and adolescent development, all from California State University, Fullerton. She also holds an administrative services credential, a K-12 reading and language arts specialist credential and additional certifications in curriculum design and instructional leadership.
A Fullerton resident, Lee has been married for 17 years and has an 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. Outside of her professional accomplishments, she enjoys strength training, hiking, traveling and spending quality time with her family. She recently took up marathon running and completed her first race last May at the OC Marathon.
As associate superintendent, she will oversee efforts to empower the 29 school districts served by OCDE to meet their academic goals. This includes the department’s own ACCESS and Connections programs for students enrolled in alternative and special education.
Her work will specifically align with Dr. Bean’s 5-3-1 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes five key initiatives, three support objectives and one bold goal. Focus areas include expanding career technical education, fostering emotional intelligence, integrating AI in education, ensuring school safety and exploring funding opportunities for district-level innovations. The plan also calls for targeted support for local districts and improving outcomes and opportunities for all students enrolled in the department’s ACCESS schools.
County Superintendent Bean noted the strong alignment between the county’s needs and Dr. Lee’s expertise.
“The feedback I’ve received over the past six months has highlighted the critical importance of supporting instruction and academic development across Orange County,” he said. “With an impressive background in professional learning, strategic planning and instructional leadership, Dr. Lee is exceptionally well-suited to advance this work.”