Former teacher and administrator Susan Rainey made significant contributions to the Southern California educational community. Photo Credit: Inland Empire Daily Bulletin

There are many amazing educators who have made significant contributions to their community schools. One of these is Susan Rainey, a distinguished leader throughout the educational community of Southern California.

Susan was born in Denver, Colorado, on Nov. 25, 1946. She grew up in Temple City, a suburb of Los Angeles, California. After earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University to Redlands in California’s Inland Empire, she completed the requirements for her PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Southern California. In addition, in 2004, California Baptist University conferred upon Susan an honorary doctorate.

Susan’s work as an educator led her to schools all over Southern California. Her early teaching assignments were in Redlands Unified Schools and Palo Alto Unified Schools. She also taught at Yucaipa High School in San Bernardino County. And she completed stints as Assistant Principal at Monrovia High School and Principal of Brea Olinda High School. Next, she served as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and then as Deputy Superintendent at Hemet Unified Schools. Susan also spent seven years as the Superintendent of Charter Oak Unified Schools in Covina. The last ten years of her career were spent as Superintendent of Schools in the Riverside Unified School District.

After her retirement, Sue served two terms as an elected trustee at the Riverside County Office of Education, where she filled the position of Chairperson. She also served as the President of United Way of the Inland Valley, the Chairperson of the Riverside Public Library Foundation, and a member of the Riverside Philharmonic.

For her work as an educator, Sue earned many accolades. She was named Superintendent of the Year by Region XII of the Association of California School Administrators. Twice she garnered the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, in 1996 and in 2012. She also earned the Robert F. Alioto Instructional Leadership Award by the California School Leadership Academy. For her support of youth athletic programs, Susan garnered the Chuck Kane Leadership Award and was named a member of the Riverside Sports Hall of Fame.

Sadly, this indefatigable educator passed away on Sept. 25, 2022. She was 75 years old.