Employee Devotes 68 Years to O.C. School District

The following is a press release from the Huntington Beach Union High School District and does not reflect editorial work done by Spotlight Schools. Submit a press release to Spotlight Schools by emailing hello@spotlightschools.com.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) is honored to announce the retirement of Kayoko "Kay" Nakauchi after 68 years of dedicated service to HBUHSD, effective December 31, 2025.

Throughout her life and career, Kay Nakauchi has demonstrated a determined spirit and remarkable perseverance. In 1942, following the Manzanar executive order, Nakauchi and her family were detained at the Manzanar Japanese American internment camp alongside over 120,000 others. Despite the abrupt disruption to her life and the difficult conditions she endured, she remained resilient and positive, qualities that would shape and guide her as she entered high school and took her first steps toward a long-standing career with the district.

Nakauchi went on to graduate from Huntington Beach High School (HBHS), the first of HBUHSD’s now nine schools. She attended Orange Coast College for a semester before returning to HBHS to begin her career with HBUHSD in 1958, where she would serve until the opening of Westminster High School and later transition to the Huntington Beach Union High School District’s office. During her time within HBUHSD, Nakauchi served as a stenographer, administrative secretary, executive secretary, and certificated personnel secretary, a position she held through the remainder of her career.

During Nakauchi’s 68 years with HBUHSD, she has witnessed significant growth and transformation. When she began her career, the district consisted solely of Huntington Beach High School. Over the years, she has seen the founding of eight additional schools, including Westminster High School (1959), Marina High School (1963), Fountain Valley High School (1966), Edison High School (1969), Huntington Beach Adult School (1971), Ocean View High School (1976), Coast High School (1980), and Valley Vista High School (1992). In addition to changes at the school level, Nakauchi also experienced transformation at the district level, serving under 13 superintendents and two interim superintendents.

Beyond witnessing these changes, Nakauchi has also played an active role in shaping and strengthening HBUHSD. Throughout her 68 years of service, she has assisted in the hiring of more than 6,000 certificated employees, individuals who have impacted the lives of countless students across campuses. Her contributions to HBUHSD have been so significant that she recently became the namesake of the Kay Nakauchi Employee of the Year Award, which honors an exceptional classified employee each year.

“Not only have I had a front-row seat to watching Kay shine over the years, she has also played a significant role in my life,” expressed HBUHSD Superintendent Dr. Carolee Ogata. “She taught me the importance of a strong work ethic and how to treat people with kindness while remaining professional. She has never strayed from these values in all the years I’ve known her, which makes her decades of service even more impressive.”

HBUHSD Board President Dr. Bonnie Castrey shared, “I’ve known Kay for over forty of her 68 years with the district and have always greatly admired her work ethic. If you graduated from one of our schools or had children or friends who attended, you can thank Kay for the literal thousands of teachers whom she was responsible for processing to be hired. Kay’s warm smile and delightful little laugh are greatly missed on a daily basis. She is one of the kindest, smartest women I have ever had the pleasure of working with and is a role model to us all!”

“Kay has shown all of us what loyalty, perseverance, and service truly look like,” shared HBUHSD Board Member Dr. Duane Dishno. “Her 68 years of commitment have been an inspiration to us all. Her influence will continue through the people she mentored and supported through the years. She didn't just serve our district; she helped build it, sustain it, and guide it through decades of change. Her kindness, wisdom, and institutional knowledge have been a gift to everyone who has had the privilege of working with her.”

The Huntington Beach Union High School District expresses its sincere gratitude to Kay Nakauchi for her continual dedication and support to HBUHSD staff and community for over six decades and wish her the very best in this next chapter!