Debra Duardo, M.S.W., Ed.D., is the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools, leading the nation’s largest regional education agency, which supports 80 K–12 school districts serving 1.3 million students. Appointed in 2016, she has focused on advancing educational equity and access, supporting students and families, and strengthening school system leadership. With a 30-year career shaped by her own experiences as a teen mom and high school dropout, Dr. Duardo is a passionate advocate for meeting students where they are and ensuring safe, supportive pathways to college and career success.
 
Dr. Duardo holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a doctorate from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.  She joined the Parsons board in 2026.