Sue Jin Kim is an educator, writer, and performing artist from Los Angeles, California. She has served in the field of education for over 15 years, holding a range of positions, including K-5 teacher, site and district-level administrator, director of community-based programming, school board member, and educational consultant.
For 6 years, Sue Jin served as the Associate Program Director for ASES Prep, an award-winning intervention program in Los Angeles County, providing at-risk youth with the knowledge and skills to make positive changes in their communities through social justice education and nonviolent civic action. She also served as Dean at Alta Public Schools, leading the school-wide implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) and a Restorative Justice initiative. As a consultant for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, she trained and mentored rising leaders in expanded learning programs, instilling in them a strong leadership philosophy and practical expertise.
Throughout her career, Sue Jin has been passionate about non-traditional forms of education, pro-human pedagogy, and civil discourse grounded in rationality, humility, and respect.
In addition to her educational work, Sue Jin is an accomplished writer and performing artist. She has written and performed music featured in film, television, and radio, and has released two albums: "Worth the Tears" (2007) and "I Am Worthy" (2014). She has been featured in publications such as Audrey Magazine and Ampersand LA, and was a top 10 finalist for Asian American Popstar.
In 2022, Sue Jin published her first children's book, "Where Did Appa Go," which follows a young Korean girl named Jinah as she learns to cope with the passing of her father through meditation and gratitude. Additionally, her short story "Risky Behavior" was published in the 2014 anthology "Kimchi for Life: A Melting Pot of Thoughts," exploring the Korean cultural diaspora and experience.
Sue Jin holds a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master's in Teaching and Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in K-12 Leadership from the University of Southern California. She currently serves as an Assistant Principal in Huntington Park and as a lecturer at the USC Rossier School of Education.