California education equity official resigns after it is revealed he lives and works out-of-state

The California Deputy Superintendent of Equity resigned after it was reported he earns over $160,000 from the state of California while living and running a business more than 2,500 miles away in Pennsylvania.

Daniel Lee, a psychologist and life coach, owns a Philadelphia-based psychology firm that offers personal therapy and corporate leadership training, according to reporting by Politico. He has worked with the School District of Philadelphia, but neither his 18-page resume or LinkedIn profile show any prior experience working with California schools.

The report prompted outcries across the Golden State. The Los Angeles Times editorial board blasted the decision not to list the position publicly, saying the hire “smacks of cronyism – and this is a job that should be performed by someone in California, both as a matter of state law and as good practice.” It laid the blame on the non-profit that made the initial hire, which operates outside state transparency laws.

"There are a number of people in California very well qualified in our universities and educational institutions who could do this work,” said Carl Pinkston, director of the Black Parallel School Board in Sacramento, which is currently suing the state over disciplinary practices for students of color.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who was influential in the hire, has been friends with Lee since they were social workers in Philadelphia. He oversees the Department of Education and created the equity branch shortly after Lee was hired.

“The fact that we have known each other for 30 years ... if he's doing great quality work, what difference does it make how long we've known each other?” Thurmond said in an interview Friday. He justified his hire as expanded remote work during COVID, and reports confirm Lee attended virtual meetings and events.

When asked, Amy Palmer, spokesperson for the state human resources agency, said, “We are working to provide clarity in the state telework policy to ensure it is clear that teleworking does not change the definition of state employment.”

Lee was hired and funded by Californians Dedicated to Education Foundations, a Silicon Valley-based non-profit that hires for top state education positions. He moved to a DoE position last summer with a salary range of $161,400 and $179,832.