Under Cohn's leadership, the Long Beach district has achieved record attendance, the lowest rate of student suspensions in a decade, a decrease in both the student failure and dropout rates, an end to social promotion, an increase in the number of students taking college preparatory courses, higher student achievement and significantly safer schools.

Key to Dr. Cohn's success is his belief that all students can achieve when given adequate structure, encouragement and resources. He has also shown courageous leadership in implementing meaningful education reforms.

Cohn's committed approach has placed his district on the cutting edge of school reform. LBUSD became the first public school system in the nation to require school uniforms in grades K-8; the first to require third graders reading below grade level to attend mandatory summer school; and the first to require under-performing eighth graders to attend a prep school for a year before starting high school. His school district was the first in the nation to create a public middle school of single gender classes. The district is now piloting an extended middle school day and year, and many other innovations.

In 1969, Cohn began his career as a high school history teacher in the Compton (CA) Unified School District. He has taught education courses at Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Long Beach, USC and the University of Pittsburgh, where he also worked as a consultant for the Tri-State School Study Council and the Race Desegregation Assistance Center. In Long Beach, he worked as a high school counselor, administrative assistant, district attendance director and area superintendent before accepting his current position.

Dr. Cohn holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy from St. John's College in Camarillo, CA, a master's degree in Counseling from Chapman University in Orange, CA and a doctorate from UCLA in Urban and Educational Policy and Planning.