Steve Venz is the principal of Quincy Jones Elementary School, a new Los Angeles Unified School District school that emphasizes academic excellence through music and the arts. It is the first public, urban elementary school of its kind that focuses the instruction around jazz music. The school is located in South Los Angeles, near Central Avenue, a major thoroughfare in downtown LA that was a thriving center of jazz for three decades beginning in the 1920's.

For seven years, Mr. Venz was the music administrator for the Los Angeles School District, coordinating, supervising and supporting the elementary, middle and high school music students and teachers. He is currently the Advocacy/Legislation Representative for the California Association for Music Education.

Mr. Venz holds a M.A. in Educational Administration from California State University, Northridge and a B.M. In Music Education from the University of Georgia.