SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education announced at its meeting on August 23, 2022, that the district will conduct an internal search for its next superintendent of schools. The process kicks off with an opportunity for students, families, community members and staff to share their hopes for the district’s future. The board hopes to conclude the selection process and ask the chosen candidate to assume the superintendent’s position as of Jan. 1, 2023. A full timeline and overview of the process can be found at www.sanjuan.edu/superintendent. 

“Our schools and our district have a lot to take pride in,” said Board of Education President Michael McKibbin. “As a board, we feel it is essential that our next superintendent be able to build upon our strengths to help us address our areas of opportunity. As we continue our journey toward more equitable education, deliver on more than $100 million in specialized programs to address learning loss and the challenges of the pandemic, and continue to implement the work called out in our Local Control Accountability Plan, we must have a leader who understands where we are and has the ability to help us grow.” 

To help inform the board in its selection process, members of the district’s community are invited to share input in two ways. The first is online via a Thoughtexchange which offers a chance for participants to share their own thinking but also see what others are sharing. The exchange will be open from Aug. 24 through Sept. 9. The second method is via community forums being held on Sept. 8 at four physical locations as well as one online session. Additional outreach will be conducted with district committees and student groups. 

Applications will be open to any current San Juan Unified employee beginning Sept. 1 with a closing date of Sept. 15. The board anticipates interviews taking place the week of Sept. 19. 

“In looking at the superintendent selection processes recently in other districts and the history of success for those hired it becomes clear that stability of leadership is vital. We’ve been through interim superintendents before and seen the paralysis it can cause,” said Board of Education Clerk Pam Costa. “We are confident that we have the internal talent to not only provide the innovative leadership needed to move us forward but also the stability that is necessary in these uncertain times. 

Current San Juan Unified Superintendent Kent Kern announced his intent to retire by the end of the 2022-23 school year in early August, starting the board’s discussion on a selection process. He has committed to moving to a support role focused on the transition of the board from five to seven members this year as well as supporting the onboarding of the new superintendent. Kern has served as San Juan Unified superintendent since 2014. He will be the second longest-serving superintendent in district history when he retires this school year.