Director of Expanded Learning Programs, Pomona Unified School District

Alan Pantanini has dedicated three decades to Pomona Unified, beginning as a classroom teacher in 1996 and growing into roles as Assistant Principal and elementary Principal at Golden Springs and Washington Elementary schools. In 2023, he became the district’s first Director of Expanded Learning Programs. He united 17 ASES after-school programs and expanded TLC (The Learning Connection) into a 9-hour learning day that now serves 3,430 students, a 60% increase in two years, across all 23 elementary sites and 4 Middle Schools. By braiding ASES, ELOP, and district funding, TLC offers high-dosage tutoring, enrichment clubs delivered by 17 community partners, and year-round programming.

Alan leads through collaboration, strategic planning, and trust. He builds partnerships across departments, treats principals as essential partners, and holds community partners to high standards while supporting their growth. He credits his team with TLC’s success and believes school should be fun, bringing that energy to the work as the biggest kid at heart. He is committed to ensuring every student, in every neighborhood, has the same opportunity to learn, create, and discover.