BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jennifer Root began her tenure as the superintendent of Menifee Union School District in October 2020. Her leadership philosophy is based on a foundation that educating children is the most important responsibility of any community. It is imperative that we provide children with a relevant education that prepares them for their limitless future.
Dr. Root’s career spans 32 years as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, and assistant superintendent. In her most recent role as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services in Anaheim Union High School District, Dr. Root monitored a $400 million budget and oversaw numerous departments, including fiscal services, maintenance & operations, payroll, purchasing, transportation, food services, and facilities.
Before joining the Anaheim team, Dr. Root was the Chief Business Officer and Director of Student Services in the Covina-Valley Unified School District. Prior to these roles, Dr. Root spent 11 years as an elementary principal serving students in both high-performing and program improvement schools. While leading Hodge Elementary in Azusa USD, Dr. Root implemented an award-winning dual immersion program that encompasses a preschool bi-literacy academy, which is still flourishing today.
Educationally, Dr. Root has a degree in psychology from the University of California, Riverside. She has earned a master’s degree in Language Development and School Administration from Azusa Pacific University. She has her School Business Management Certificate and a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.
Among her accomplishments, Dr. Root has been named Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region XV Elementary School Principal of the Year, ACSA Region XV Central Office Administrator of the Year, ACSA Region XV Charter Leadership Award, ACSA Region 17 Business Services Administrator of the Year, ACSA Region XV Robert Gray Service Award, and was recently honored with the Q10 Transformational Leadership Award.