Howard Alan Holtsman, a dedicated educator and a steadfast advocate for adult education, passed away peacefully on Nov. 25, 2024, at the age of 75 in Ripon, Calif. His lifelong career in education, community service, and his passion for racing left an indelible mark on the lives of countless students, colleagues and friends.

Born with a love for learning and a commitment to service, Holtsman began his educational journey after graduating from San Jose State University in 1972. His passion for education led him to pursue a Master of Education in School Management from the University of La Verne in 1980.

In 1973, Holtsman embarked on his career in education at East Union High School in the Manteca Unified School District, initially teaching industrial arts and later transitioning to driver-training. His time at East Union High School was just the beginning of a long and distinguished career in education. By 1987, he became Vice Principal at Lindbergh Adult School, marking the start of his significant impact in the field of adult education. Three years later, Holtsman was promoted to Principal, a position he held until his retirement in 2009.

Even after retiring, Holtsman’s passion for education never waned. He frequently served as a substitute administrator in districts across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. His dedication to students remained strong, and he continued to substitute teach at East Union High School until 2023, where his career began.

Holtsman was deeply committed to adult education throughout his career. He was a member of several organizations that championed adult education, including the California Association of Vocational Administrators (CAVA); Region 7 representative to the state ACSA Adult Education Council; and he was the Vice President of the California Industrial Education Association (CIEA) in 1985. His contributions to adult education extended beyond his professional roles — he was also a presenter at the Adult Education Conference in 1988 and served on its planning committee in 1990. His leadership was recognized by his peers, as evidenced by the multiple awards he received throughout his career, including winning the following Region 7 awards: Adult Education Administrator of the Year in both 1996 and 2009; Career Tech Administrator of the Year in 2004; and Retired Administrator of the Year in 2016. Holtsman’s leadership extended to serving as ACSA Region 7 President from 2007 to 2008.

Beyond his career in education, Holtsman was also a man of deep community involvement. He served his community as Past President of Rotary and various other local committees. His love for his family, the Giants, and the 49ers were also central to his life, as was his enjoyment of race car driving, a hobby that reflected his adventurous spirit.

Holtsman’s legacy is one of dedication to education, service, and community. He is survived by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched during his decades-long career in education. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues in the ACSA community, as well as by the students he inspired and the countless lives he impacted throughout his career and beyond.

The Charter Oak Unified School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Danny Kim as the new Superintendent, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Kim, who currently serves as the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to student success to this new role. Jeffrey Jordan is retiring at the end of the year after five years of dedicated service to COUSD and a distinguished career in public education spanning over 34 years.

Kim has dedicated over 20 years to public education, serving in various leadership roles in both large urban and small suburban school districts. Prior to joining COUSD, he held positions as a middle school and high school principal in the Corona-Norco Unified School District and key leadership roles in educational services, student services and human resources in the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

Kim earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern California, where his research focused on addressing the knowledge, motivation and organizational gaps that prevent underrepresented high school students of color from matriculating into four-year universities. He has also contributed to higher education as an instructor, teaching graduate-level courses in Educational Leadership, Learning Theory, and Teacher Leadership.

Jordan, who announced his retirement in September, plans on spending his new free time with family and traveling.