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Tonia Causey Bush

Dr. Tonia Causey-Bush

Dr. Tonia Causey-Bush is a dynamic educational leader with more than 27 years of service dedicated to transforming public education. Currently serving as Chief Academic Officer for the Banning Unified School District, she oversees both Special Education and Educational Services—bringing a deep commitment to equity, academic excellence, and student empowerment.

Dr. Causey-Bush’s leadership journey is marked by measurable impact and innovation. As Director of Teaching and Learning in the Fontana Unified School District, she guided a team of over 35,000 students and staff toward academic growth, leading to some of the state’s most significant gains in mathematics achievement and a 12% increase in college and career readiness. Her work in Rialto Unified saw high school graduation rates rise by nearly 10%, driven by her ability to align data, culture, and community around student success.

With a Ph.D. in Education from Claremont Graduate University and advanced degrees from Columbia University and Cal State San Bernardino, Dr. Causey-Bush blends scholarship with practice—championing systems that turn vision into measurable outcomes. She has served as an elementary school principal, middle school dean, teacher, university professor, and district leader, each role reinforcing her belief that education must be both rigorous and relevant.

A published author and sought-after speaker, Dr. Causey-Bush’s work on cultural relevancy and instructional equity has been featured in ACSA’s Leadership Magazine and across national education conferences. Her excellence has been recognized with numerous awards, including the ACSA Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year and the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Award.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Causey-Bush is a devoted mother of three and an active member of Immanuel Praise Fellowship in Rancho Cucamonga. Her career—and her life—embody the belief that when we lead with purpose and data-driven compassion, we create schools where every student can thrive.