Dr. Gudiel Crosthwaite
Director and Chair of Governance and Nominating Committee
Superintendent of Sunnyvale School District
Dr. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite has dedicated over 30 years to public education, championing equity, mentorship, and student success. He began his career in 1994 as a classroom teacher and has since served in leadership roles at every level—elementary, middle, and high school.
In 2025, Dr. Crosthwaite was appointed Superintendent of Sunnyvale School District, where he leads with a deep commitment to innovation, equity, and student-centered learning. His vision is rooted in the “Sunnyvale Promise”—that every student is known by name, strength, and need, and prepared to thrive in high school and beyond.
Prior to Sunnyvale, Dr. Crosthwaite served for 15 years in Lynwood Unified School District, including eight years as Superintendent. During his tenure, he led transformative progress—most notably a 25.3 percentage point increase in the graduation rate at Lynwood High School and a 23.9 point increase at Firebaugh High School. In 2017, Lynwood Unified was named AP District of the Year by the College Board, the only district in California to receive this national honor.
Dr. Crosthwaite also secured $250 million in state funding to rebuild Lynwood High School’s Imperial Campus, guided district-wide PBIS recognition, and led Lynwood to become one of three districts in California selected as a model for Community Schools.
He earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA, two master’s degrees—from Harvard University and California State University, Los Angeles—and a Ph.D. in Education from Claremont Graduate University.
Nationally, Dr. Crosthwaite serves as Advisory Chair for the League of Innovative Schools and Chair of the Superintendents Executive Advisory Council (SEAC), shaping national conversations on educational innovation and equity.