Gavin Payne has served as Chief Deputy to California’s State Superintendent Jack O'Connell since 2003, managing all activities of the state Department of Education. He guides partnerships with a diverse array of stakeholders and philanthropy groups, and oversees relationships between his Department and the state’s school districts and counties, as well as with the federal government.
Payne represents the Superintendent on the Boards of Directors of the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) and WestEd. He also serves on the Board of the Council of Chief State Schools Officers’ (CCSSO) Deputies Leadership Commission and the CCSSO/Smithsonian Institution Steering Committee.
Payne earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of California, Davis, and served as a Coro Foundation Fellow in Public Affairs. Prior to his present appointment, he worked for more than a decade as O’Connell’s Chief of Staff in the California Legislature.
In addition to his public duties, Payne sits on the school site council for the elementary school attended by his two young daughters, Zoe and Fiona. He is married to Susan Strachan, an accomplished environmental consultant.
