Dr. Jorge Ayala was elected Yolo County Superintendent of Schools in 1999 and continues to direct the operations of the Yolo County Office of Education. His career spans 31 years with extensive experience as an elementary, middle and high school educator, including 26 years as an administrator. Dr. Ayala is California’s first elected Latino County Superintendent of Schools and brings a vision to the County Office of Education of promoting enhanced district fiscal services, exploring the potential for shared technologies and anticipating how to meet new and emerging student needs in the fields of alternative education, special education, career development and services to children and families. Dr. Ayala serves on the Woodland Healthcare Community Board as well as on the School of Education’s Board of Advisors, the Yolo County Workforce Investment Board, the Youth Opportunities Council, the Yolo Employment Services Board and the Yolo County Children’s Alliance Board. He received his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Humboldt, master’s degree from California State University, Sacramento and his doctorate from the University of the Pacific. Dr. Ayala and his wife live in Woodland where she is a teacher in the Woodland School District. They are the parents of two children.