Transitions
March 3, 2025
ACSA is saddened by the loss of Marian Hopwood, a former state board member from Region 4 who passed away recently at the age of 81.
Hopwood was born and raised in Vallejo and went on to serve for 34 years in the Vallejo City Unified School District as an executive assistant to the superintendent and administrative secretary. She was known for her passion for education and for running the superintendent’s office with efficiency and warmth.
She joined ACSA in the 1970s and played an active role in promoting the needs of classified leaders. At the state level, she served on the Board of Directors and the Classified Educational Leaders Committee. She was known for being a link between state ACSA, Region 4 and the local charter, as well as for mentoring new leaders. She was also a member of the Filipino-American Educators Association of California and the National Association of Executive and Administrative Assistants.
In 2003, she received ACSA’s Confidential Employee of the Year award. In an EdCal profile recognizing her award, Hopwood said she initially wanted to become a K-3 teacher, but realized after working in a classified role that she was making a difference in a unique way.
“I really enjoyed what I was doing and I felt I was making a contribution,” she said. “I care for the people with whom I work and I’m dedicated to the children.”
She was also heavily involved in her community, serving on steering committees for the City of Vallejo’s Economic Vision Steering Committee and Unity Day. Hopwood was also active in the Vallejo Chapter of the Filipino-American National Historical Society and became president of the group in 2017, according to published reports. She enjoyed educating the community about Filipino history in the area, including her family’s roots on Mare Island.
Ron Carruth has recently joined ACSA’s Member Assistance and Legal Support Team.
Carruth spent 16 years as the superintendent at Whittier City and El Dorado UHSD and served as the ACSA Superintendents Council President for several years before retiring in 2024. His extensive experience as a district leader and his knowledge of the education code will be a tremendous resource to ACSA members navigating complex issues in their day-to-day work. His expertise and passion will further strengthen ACSA’s commitment to advocating for and assisting school leaders across the state.
Carruth has advocated at the local and national levels through his involvement in numerous administrator associations. He has served as president of California City Superintendents, has been an active member of the American Association of School Administrators; California School Boards Association; AASA, the School Superintendents Association; and the National Association of Superintendents. He also formed the California High School Coalition to help provide a voice for the needs of high school students.
Carruth holds a doctor of education degree in organizational leadership from University of La Verne and a master of arts in historical theology.
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