March 7, 2022

Cosca began his career as a teacher and an elementary assistant principal in Santa Ana Unified School District. He then served as an elementary and later a junior high school principal in Fullerton School District. Cosca went on to become the Superintendent of the Eastside School District in Lancaster for three years, Central School District in Rancho Cucamonga for six years and finally the Superintendent of Ontario Montclair School District in Ontario for the remaining 11 years of his career.

“He was the leader that everyone would aspire to be ­— kind, generous, encouraging, focused on helping everyone else succeed. His sense of humor and positive outlook were contagious, and he was committed to providing the highest level of service,” said Joel Shapiro, in an online tribute. “He was a role model for doing things the right way and treating people the right way. Being with Frank made all of us more focused on serving others and less interested in our own egos.”

Cosca’s many leadership roles have included serving as an advisor to ACSA, the California School Boards Association, the California Secretary of Education and the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as chairing the University of Southern California Dean’s Superintendents’ Advisory Group.

After retiring as superintendent in Ontario Montclair School District in 2000, he founded The Cosca Group, focusing on serving California school districts by finding outstanding superintendents to lead those districts.

“Because of his own experience, Frank understood the importance of the position of superintendent and appreciated the significant relationship between boards of education and their district’s leader,” said TCG Partner Steve Goldstone, in an online tribute. “Based on that understanding, he knew that he could continue to have the impact he desired by working with boards in seeking and selecting great superintendent candidates and then supporting that relationship in the subsequent years. Assembling a team of over 30 retired public-school administrators, he forged long term superintendent-board relationships that enhanced the education of students in scores of districts throughout California. Thus, his legacy continued and continues to this day.”

Cosca is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sharon; his son Kevin (wife Alexis); son Kris (wife Lotte); son Kory (wife Hien); son Kenny; and four grandchildren, Charlotte, Erik, Katy and Kylee.