SMMUSD Hires District Veteran To Oversee Curriculum

MALIBU, CA — The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has promoted a district veteran to oversee curriculum and instruction across its schools.

The School Board on Oct. 19 approved the appointment of Ashley Benjamin as the new director of curriculum and instruction. Benjamin has served as principal of McKinley Elementary in Santa Monica since 2017 and has worked as an educator for nearly two decades, district officials said.

“I am excited and honored to be joining the district leadership team,” Benjamin said in a statement. “I look forward to supporting extraordinary achievement for all students while simultaneously closing the achievement gap, and fostering students’ belonging, curiosity, and empowerment.”

Benjamin began her career teaching at elementary and middle schools across Los Angeles County, before pivoting to administration. In that realm, she served as an intervention coordinator and a categorial programs advisor supporting English learner and other instructional programs.

She's also taught at Cal State Northridge, including a recent course on English language arts and English language development for diverse learners. She was also the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 14 director-at-large, and is currently the Westside vice president of curriculum and instruction.

Benjamin has a doctorate in K-12 leadership from the University of Southern California, where she completed a dissertation focused on an action plan to close the achievement gap for Latino English Learners at a local school district.

She has double undergraduate degrees from USC, in gender studies and education, and a Master's in social and multicultural foundations of education from Cal State Long Beach.

“Dr. Benjamin is a proven curriculum leader in our District with deep knowledge of state standards, social justice standards, supporting professional development and leading students to success,” said Superintendent Antonio Shelton said in a statement. “We congratulate her on her new position and know she will have continued success serving our students, families and staff.”