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Joseph A. Ovick, Ed.D., who served for nearly two decades as Contra Costa County’s superintendent of schools until retiring in 2014, died unexpectedly early Thursday morning, according to county officials. He was 69.
Ovick worked in education for 45 years, beginning his career in Santa Clara County before joining the Contra Costa County Office of Education as director of special education. He rose up the administrative ranks at the Contra Costa office before winning election as the county’s superintendent of schools in 1996, a position he held for the next 18 years.
“Dr. Ovick was a true champion of students and schools during his 45 years as an educator,” current county Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata said in a statement. “He was a wonderful friend and mentor to me, beginning back in our early days working in Santa Clara County. This is truly a sad day for our agency, our county and the education community.”
The cause of Ovick’s death wasn’t immediately released. Memorial service details are pending.
County education officials remembered the Brentwood resident as having developed strong coalitions of educators, community members and legislators to support public schools. Ovick also focused on maintaining a presence in schools throughout the county, making a point to visit classrooms often, they added.
“Joe personified what the county Office of Education stood for in regards to support for schools and school districts in Contra Costa County. He was public education’s biggest advocate, and he will be sorely missed,” said Terry Koehne, chief communications officer for the county education office.
Ovick’s career began as a special education teacher in Santa Clara County before he moved into administration in that county as an assistant principal and then principal and ultimately director of special education.
He later moved to the Contra Costa County Office of Education, where he worked as director of special education, assistant superintendent for student services and associate superintendent for business.
Ovick began his 18-year run as the elected leader of Contra Costa County schools in 1996.
The county’s Board of Education singled out Ovick’s dedication to local students in 2008 by dedicating the Office of Education’s community school in Brentwood as the Joseph A. Ovick School, commending his longtime advocacy for addressing the needs of all students, especially those who are at risk or have special needs.
Ovick also taught at Chapman University’s Graduate School of Education and San Jose State University for years, with a curriculum emphasis on school law, finance and leadership.
He served on the Board of Directors of the East Bay Leadership Council and the Contra Costa County Children and Families Policy Forum. In 2012, he served as president of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, and he continued to serve on its executive board after his retirement in 2014.
He also held leadership roles on the Bay Area Leadership Foundation, the Federal Policy & Legislation Committee for the Council of Administrators for Special Education, the Federal Advocacy for California Education, the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 6 and the Bay Area Region Superintendents Association.
During his career, Ovick received a variety of education awards, including the President’s Circle Award for outstanding service to education and the community from the Diablo Valley College Foundation, and the Government Service Award in recognition of outstanding community service from then-Congressman George Miller.
Ovick was named Citizen of the Year by the East Bay Leadership Foundation in 2008, the Superintendent of the Year by the ACSA Region 6 in 2006 and the Ferd Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award winner from the ACSA Region 6 in 2010.
He also remained dedicated to community service, according to county officials, citing Ovick’s membership in the Pleasant Hill Rotary Club, local Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, and Junior Achievement USA.
