Los Alamitos Elementary's Okino Is Named an O.C. Principal of the Year

Sunghie Okino, principal of Los Alamitos Elementary (LAE), has been named O.C.'s Elementary Principal of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators. Okino was recognized for her leadership and the outstanding achievement of the students of her school, which is considered among the best in the county and state.

During her five years at the school, the level of service to students has steadily increased, and student achievement continues to climb, Los Alamitos Unified district officials said in a written statement. In 2010, LAE had an improvement of 46 points in its Academic Performance Index, to 911. 

Among the initiatives recently implemented at LAE: Tiger Time–leveled reading instruction that allows teachers to specifically target students' needs in smaller groups; Camp LAE—an overnight camp to build relationships and make connections among families and the school community; and MIND and CGI math that build critical mathematical thinking in students so they are better able to progress through rigorous levels of mathematics. 

Board President Karen Russell said, “We are very proud of Sunghie and the entire LAE team.  Los Al is a great place for kids to learn because exceptional principals like Sunghie work with dedicated teachers and enjoy outstanding parent support.  It’s a magical combination.” 

Okino said: “My incredible staff at Los Alamitos Elementary is smart, relentless and passionate about the education we provide.”