The ABC Unified School District is remembering former Superintendent Dr. Mary Sieu, a longtime educator who spent more than 40 years serving public school students, families, and employees.

Sieu began her career as an elementary school teacher with Chicago Public Schools before moving to California, where she taught in the Chino Unified School District. Her career also took her overseas, where she spent several years teaching world languages in the People’s Republic of China.

Sieu then dedicated more than 30 years of her life to the students, families, and employees of ABC Unified. She began her career in ABC in January 1990 as the Coordinator of Special Programs and Services. She then went on to serve as the Supervisor of Bilingual and ESL Programs, the Director of Special Programs, the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, and the Deputy Superintendent. She was selected as Superintendent in 2012, where she served for 10 years as the first woman and person of Chinese heritage in this role. In addition, Sieu served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education and earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. She always had a mischievous grin when explaining that she had ties to both universities.

Sieu understood the importance of leading well and growing as a leader. She led well as part of ACSA and was instrumental in promoting ACSA and ACSA Region 14 with so many administrators in ABC Unified who have gone on to follow in her footsteps and participate at the regional and state levels. Sieu also served on the ACSA State Board of Directors as a Member at Large from 2009-2011. She served with the ACSA State Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Achievement for Success from 2011-2013 and participated on the ACSA State Women’s Leadership Network Task Force from 2011-2013. In addition, Sieu was the ACSA Region 14 Women’s Leadership Network Chair from 2010-2012 and she served on the ACSA Urban Education Committee as a member from 2015-2018. In January 2017, Sieu was the ACSA Leadership Assembly keynote speaker and she was the Director of the ACSA Superintendent Academy in Cerritos from 2019-2022.

“Dr. Sieu was a fierce advocate for public education who believed deeply that every student deserved the opportunity and support to succeed,” said current ABC Unified Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow, who worked closely with Sieu. “She understood that serving students well required people to work together. Collaboration was not simply something she talked about. It was central to how she led.”

Sieu was particularly proud of ABC Unified’s work in collaborative labor management relations, an approach that brought district leaders and employee organizations together to address challenges and improve schools. She frequently traveled across the country to speak with other educators about the district’s efforts in this area, and was part of the founding board for the California Labor Management Initiative.

Her work earned recognition from education organizations at both the state and national levels. In 2011, ACSA presented her with its Valuing Diversity Award, and she was named Region 14 Administrator of the Year. In 2017, ACSA named her Superintendent of the Year, an honor that meant a great deal to her. She was also a finalist for the 2018 National Superintendent of the Year award from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).

While Sieu received many professional honors, those who worked with her also remember her sense of humor, willingness to listen, and pride in the district.

Many of the programs Sieu helped develop and support remain in place today and continue to benefit ABC Unified students. Her work to bring people together and encourage collaboration also remains an important part of the district’s approach to serving the community.

“ABC Unified is a better place because Dr. Sieu was part of it and the communities served are grateful for her service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to students,” Zietlow said. “Her impact on ABC Unified will be remembered for years to come.”

Sieu is remembered for her years of service to ABC Unified, her dedication to public education, and the many students, families, and colleagues whose lives she touched.