Jose Cruz

Jose, Chief Exective Officer, San Diego Council on Literacy, graduated from San Diego High School in 1973. He received AA degree from San Diego City College and earned his B.A. in English at the Unversity of Southern California (USC).

Jose has been active in the field of literacy since 1988. He has generated funds totally over $5,000,000 to support literacy efforts in Southern California; has served as a board member of ProLiteracy (the largest literacy organization in the world); the Downtown San Diego Lions Club; Foster Grandparents Program, Catholic Charities; Parent Institute for Quality Education; Juvenile Court Book Club; Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP).

He has been president of Rolling Readers USA; the San Diego Branch of the International Dyslexia Association; the National Alliance of Urban Literacy Coalitions, and he has served on the Steering Committee/Governance Council of Laubach Literacy Action/ProLiteracy.

Jose has received many honors throughout his career, including San Diego Public Library “Literacy Advocate of the Year,” PBS Hispanic Heritage Month “Local Hero Award (Education)”, San Diego Union-Tribune “Educator of the Year” award; and Civil Leader of the Year Award (UT San Diego Latino Champion Awards). Cruz has stayed active in planning his SDHS Class of 1973 reunions.