Dr. James R. Marín

Dr. James R. Marín has worked in public education for the last 23 years. Prior to joining KIPP SoCal Public Schools, James served as a Middle and High School Teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District in South Los Angeles and Watts, High School Principal at Locke High School and LA Jordan High School with Green Dot Public Schools, Director of Student Services for the Inglewood Unified School District and Director of Community Schools for Promesa Boyle Heights and LAUSD Local District East. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and his Master's Degree in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a Master's Degree in Education Administration from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California (USC). As a teacher, James earned National Board Certification in Secondary Social Sciences. His research interests include equity and access for students in urban schools; culturally responsive and relevant teaching; mentoring; urban school leadership; and parent advocacy and empowerment. He works in urban K-12 education to disrupt the systematic and institutional educational racism and inequities that have led to persistently low-expectations and outcomes in urban communities of color. Outside of work, James enjoys working out, hiking, sports and attending to his cactus garden. James is a practicing buddhist in the Won buddhism tradition and lives in the University Hills community of El Sereno with his husband Luis and their two pit mix dogs—Itza and Leti.