Teacher, Professor, Chief Education Officer, Head of School

Lucinda is widely recognized as a leader in the field of education. In 2018, she concluded a 14-year tenure as the Head of School of Marin Country Day School (California). Prior to MCDS, she worked with Mayor Daley in Chicago as the Chief Education Officer and served as Head of School and Principal of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools from 1986 to 2002. Lucinda began her career with the National Teacher Corps Program working with low-income schools in San Francisco. She taught in the San Francisco Public Schools as the first Chinese bilingual bicultural teacher from 1968 to 1972. As a professor and lecturer at Erikson Institute, University of Illinois, and the University of Chicago for 25 years, Lucinda completed research and writings in mathematics teaching and learning, curriculum development, and family and cultural studies.

Currently, she serves as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco and New Century Chamber Orchestra, and she served on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Editorial Board, as Vice Chair of NAIS, and Past President for the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). She has also served as a Trustee for Common Sense Media and Lick-Wilmerding, Head Royce, and Urban High Schools. Lucinda has been a keynote and panelist speaker for many organizations, including multiple guest appearances on Oprah. She also wrote and consulted on three films: There’s Math in Deviled Eggs, Respecting Diversity in the Classroom,” and a PBS special, Boys Will Be Men.

She obtained her BA in Creative Arts-Music and her MA in Elementary Education from San Francisco State and her PhD in Child Development and Early Childhood Education from University of Illinois–Urbana. Her two children, Shira and David, currently live in the Bay Area. She has three grandchildren and is loving retirement.