Dr. Luis R. Valentino is a scholar-practitioner dedicated to transforming public education by bridging research and real-world leadership. Over his 35-year career—from classroom teacher in Los Angeles Unified to superintendent roles in Coachella Valley and Albuquerque—he has led major district transformations that improved equity, STEM access, and academic achievement. As Chief Academic Officer in San Francisco and Portland, he secured over $120 million in funding, championed social justice–driven curricula, and implemented district-wide frameworks that raised literacy performance. Today, as Founder of Valgar LLC and Superintendent in Residence for Summit K12, Luis empowers educational leaders through coaching, publishing, and thought leadership initiatives like The District Leader podcast and Wiredprofiles journal. An author, board member, and UCLA-trained researcher, he continues to blend theory and practice to help education systems innovate with purpose. Fun fact: when he’s not writing or coaching leaders, Luis can often be found snowboarding—these days with a thermos of chamomile tea instead of energy drinks.