THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF THELMA & MARIA: From the Twitterverse

from @HowardBlume: LA Times Education Reporter Howard Blume’s Twitter Feed

Tweets from  Howard Blume ‏@howardblume    [Reads  chronologically top-to- bottom]

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1. sent 8:58 PM  on Friday Night 14 Mar 2014
L.A. Unified is hiring Thelma Melendez from mayor's office AS senior administrator. She once was contender for top LAUSD job.

2.
Melendez will serve as 2nd in command for Beyond the Bell division, which oversees after-school programs, among other functions

3.
She's likely to take over that dept after the anticipated retirement of the current head. Melendez was senior ed official in Obama admin

4.
She's also been supt. in Pomona and Santa Ana. Resigned from Santa Ana, where she had stormy relationship with that teachers union.

5.
In mayor's office, she's had a low-key role as an advisor on schools and other city programs affecting children.

6.
L.A. schools Supt. Deasy also is making another hire. Maria Casillas will come in to head instruction, sorta the No.2 position in LAUSD.

7.
Casillas succeeds Jaime Aquino, who departed amid controversy over the district's iPad program and his criticism of school board.

8.
Casillas is not the long-term choice, but agreed to serve as interim. Most recently, she had retired as head of parent engagement.

9.
Casillas will probably work something less than a full-time schedule but gives Supt. Deasy a veteran hand on key, looming projects.

10.
Deasy said of Melendez: He's fortunate to land some1 w her skill&record, esp w her knowledge of how to help students learning English.

11.
L.A. Unified was not immediately able Friday to provide salary information for Melendez & Casillas.

12.
Statement from Mayor Garcetti: "Dr. Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana has been a valuable member of our team, working on important programs...

13.
Garcetti: ..."that will improve the lives of young people in L.A., including increasing youth work and learning opportunities in the summer.

14.  sent: 9:12 PM on Friday night 14 Mar 2014
Garcetti: "I congratulate her on this exciting new opportunity with LAUSD and am sure our work together will continue."