MARCIA SIDNEY-REED

Marcia Sidney-Reed recently retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District after 40 years of dedicated service as a playground worker, a teacher, a coordinator, and an administrator.  Before retirement, she was the principal of 186th Street Elementary School, home of the Wise Owl Nation. In every capacity of her involvement in the school district, she was a successful leader.  Her track record of excellence tells a story of giving her best and bringing out the best in others.  She received her professional training at the University of Southern California where she received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science Degree in Education.  She received her administrative credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills where she now serves as an adjunct professor teaching new teachers culturally responsive teaching and classroom management.

Mrs. Reed retired as one of the most successful principals in our nation being awarded the 2016 National Distinguished Principal’s Award for the state of California, receiving the 2017 Presidential Award from the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, and traveling to Japan to represent the United States as the keynote speaker for the University of Toyama’s Global Educational Summit.  In 2018, the city of Los Angeles honored Principal Reed by renaming the corner of 186th Street and Denker Avenue,“Marcia Reed Square.”

Mrs. Reed serves as an advisory board member for the #JugLife Water Foundation to help build water wells for primary schools in Africa; she serves as a Leadership Council member for Positive Coaching Alliance in Los Angeles to help build better athletes and better people; she is a member of the Natasha Watley Foundation Board of Directors to help inner city young girls learn how to play softball; and she serves as the Community Liaison for the United States Military Academy at West Point LEADS program to teach STEM activities through diversity with students across the nation. She has always had an unwavering commitment to community service and helping children dream big.

Mrs. Reed lives in Long Beach, California with her husband Marty, she is a member of the historical New Hope Baptist Church in Los Angeles, and she is the proud mother of three millennials (Lord help!), Maree, Marques, and Marti. They are known as the “Mar” Reed family. She happily shares that all of her children are working in professions that are centered around altruism. She attributes her success in life to two wonderful parents, a great team of caring mentors, and a personal relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.