About the Superintendent

 

 

My lived experience — the struggles, the barriers, the perseverance — are not liabilities. They are my greatest leadership strengths. They keep me grounded in our mission. They remind me that when we stay focused, when we align every effort to our shared goals, we can transform futures. I am living proof of this.

Official Press Release: Fresno Unified Board of Education Selects Misty Her as Superintendent

 

The Fresno Unified Board of Education selected Misty Her to lead the state’s third-largest district as its permanent superintendent. The board’s selection follows a national search process, during which trustees confirmed that Her’s depth of experience, unparalleled skills and dedication to the students of Fresno Unified make her the ideal person to assume the top leadership role for Fresno Unified. The board announced Her as the finalist for the job at the April 23 board meeting and is expected to approve Her’s contract during the April 30 board meeting.

“Misty Her has spent her career dedicated to the students and families of Fresno Unified, building support within our staff and families because of her unmatched integrity and expertise. As an immigrant who came to this country as a child, she understands the reality of so many of our students who must overcome language and cultural barriers. A product of Fresno Unified schools, she is the ultimate success story, and an example of how caring teachers and staff can change students’ lives,” said Valerie Davis, president of the Fresno Unified Board of Education.

Her has served Fresno Unified her entire career, starting as a bilingual instructional aide more than 30 years ago. Her has served Fresno Unified as a teacher, vice principal, principal, instructional superintendent, and deputy superintendent. She was named interim superintendent in May 2024 following Bob Nelson’s announcement that he would join Fresno State as an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership.

“I am absolutely committed to a new era in which our entire district is laser-focused on student achievement. We already have the new goals and guardrails in place, and I look forward to doing all in my power to bring about the academic gains our students and families deserve,” Her said. “I know firsthand the many challenges our district faces, but I believe that with the expertise and talent of our staff, collaboration and a research-based approach, we will make incredible progress. I am beyond excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Her assumes the permanent post following the adoption of her contract at the April 30^th, 2025 board meeting.

National Search Validated Selection

The board hired search consultants McPherson & Jacobson, LLC on February 12^th, 2025 to lead the national search to identify qualified candidates to fill the post of permanent superintendent for Fresno Unified. There were several applicants who applied from several states, with four candidates interviewed. The search was guided by the goals and guardrails adopted by the board on January 22, 2025, which reflect a student outcomes focused style of governance. With the goals and guardrails in place, the search excluded any candidates whose philosophies did not match the priorities of the community.

Board President Davis stated that during the search process, Her’s strong focus on academic achievement, accountability for both staff and students and the well-being of the entire Fresno Unified community made a lasting impression on the board. Davis also noted that Her’s extensive experience and the positive reputation she has built among teachers, administrators, students and parents distinguished her during the national search.

“As interim superintendent, Misty Her was instrumental in refocusing our district on student outcomes and achieving operational excellence, recognizing that our district was not progressing because we lacked focus and clarity districtwide. As our superintendent, I expect her to lead us to gains we have not seen before,” President Davis said.

Public input was vital in determining the kind of leadership that the district needs and deserves. With over 30 community listening sessions, the community's diverse perspectives and priorities were thoroughly considered. The insights garnered from these outreach efforts were instrumental in shaping the goals and guardrails, which guided consultants in selecting finalists and informed the board of education's final decision.

The transparent superintendent search process brought each step of the superintendent search to open session of Fresno Unified Board of Education meetings, including the RFQ for the search firm, the award of the search firm, the job description, the search screens, and the exclusionary criteria. This approach ensured that feedback and input from our staff and the public were actively sought and incorporated.

Specific terms of Her’s contract will be highlighted at the Wednesday, April 30^th board meeting.

A New Focus

The board emphasized that Her’s appointment is a critical step towards focusing on improving student achievement, with both short- and long-term academic goals. They also expect her to guide the district in honoring the community’s priorities regarding resource allocation. With new goals and guardrails already established, Her will be responsible for clarifying priorities, tracking progress, aligning resources and communicating outcomes. The board believes that Her’s deep familiarity with Fresno Unified will enable her to efficiently and effectively advance these goals. Additionally, she will continue to foster key relationships and build new partnerships to further the district’s goals and vision.

Misty will be Fresno Unified’s first female superintendent since the district’s inception in 1873.

 A New Era: Fresno Unified's Path to Choosing a Superintendent

In May 2024, Fresno Unified embarked on a transformative journey to select a new superintendent, beginning with the appointment of an interim superintendent and the adoption of a detailed implementation timeline. Monthly check-ins with key stakeholders, including the board president, board clerk, interim superintendent, chief of staff, and coach, ensured continuous progress and alignment. Governance workshops for the governance team and senior leaders in May and June laid the foundation for effective collaboration and leadership.

By September 2024, the district initiated the creation of a community outreach and engagement process, alongside a comprehensive agenda redesign. Monthly check-ins continued to foster communication and accountability, while the adoption of a revised implementation timeline kept the process on track. October saw the board conducting its annual self-evaluation, reviewing the draft community outreach process, and practicing engagement scripts. Critical needs analysis and student data analysis began, complemented by community training on effective school board governance.

In November 2024, the board conducted its annual superintendent evaluation and completed the community engagement process. December was marked by a Goals & Guardrails setting workshop, where draft ideas and plans were formulated, and the superintendent search timeline was developed. The board's monthly check-ins persisted, ensuring steady progress.

January 2025 brought the adoption of the superintendent search timeline, review of interim goals and guardrails, and the opening of the search firm RFP. The board developed a superintendent position description, exclusionary criteria, and search screens, while drafting board guardrails and conducting a quarterly self-evaluation.

Training on effective budget alignment and goal monitoring followed in February, alongside the selection of a search firm and approval of the superintendent position description and exclusionary criteria. The board adopted a monitoring calendar and superintendent evaluation tool, posted the superintendent position, and continued monthly check-ins.

March 2025 was pivotal, with the board conducting the first round of superintendent candidate interviews, goal monitoring practice, and finalist interviews. By April 2025, the board voted to negotiate with the superintendent finalist and approve the superintendent contract. Community training on effective school board governance and monthly goal monitoring sessions ensured ongoing engagement and transparency.

Throughout this journey, Fresno Unified demonstrated a commitment to thorough planning, community involvement, and effective governance, culminating in the selection of a new superintendent poised to lead the district into a promising future.

"We didn’t make this decision lightly. We made it with clear eyes, full hearts, and a deep understanding of what’s at stake." - Board President, Valerie Davis 

About Superintendent Her

Misty was born on March 5, 1975, in a small Prisoner of War camp in Laos during the final phases of the Vietnam War. Her father was involved in the CIA’s secret operations in Laos. The eldest of six siblings, Misty’s early life was marked by turmoil. Shortly after the war, her family attempted to resume farming, but her father was soon taken for “re-education” by the government—a fate from which many never returned. Fearing for their safety, the family fled to a refugee camp in Thailand, where they spent a year.

In 1980, at age five, Misty and her family relocated to the United States, initially settling in Garden Grove, California, before moving to Fresno. With no formal education and an inability to speak English, her parents chose Fresno for its agricultural opportunities, hoping to provide a better future for their children. It was here that Misty’s passion for education was nurtured through the support of teachers and mentors in the Fresno Unified School District. This early influence inspired her to pursue a career in education.

Misty attended Fresno State University, earning a BA in Liberal Studies and a master’s in administration and supervision. She started her educational career teaching grades two through six and progressed to become the first Hmong Vice Principal and, subsequently, the first Hmong Woman Principal in the United States. In 2011, she was appointed Instructional Superintendent for School Leadership in Fresno, overseeing educational programs and staff development across the district. Since 2021, Misty has served as the Deputy Superintendent of Fresno Unified School District.

In her Deputy Superintendent role, Misty is responsible for student achievement, analyzing performance data, and leading district improvements in curriculum, assessments, and community relations. She is also deeply involved in community service, serving on several boards and mentoring students throughout Fresno. Her contributions to education have been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2019 California Woman of the Year for Outstanding Service in Education and the 2022 Marjaree Mason Top Ten Woman Award.

Misty’s calling is to do educational missionary work, transforming the lives of children and families. She understands her decisions directly influence the paths of young minds she interacts with daily. Investing in and inspiring hope in our youth is profoundly powerful and necessary for success. Misty believes in the transformative power of education and is committed to inspiring hope and potential in the next generation.

 

"Superintendent Her brings a leadership style rooted in collaboration and courage—she surrounds herself with strong, thoughtful people who aren’t afraid to speak up or push back. That kind of strength builds trust and drives real progress. Her lived experience, both personal and professional, gives her a deep understanding of what our students need to thrive. I believe she will lead with empathy, clarity, and a fierce commitment to every child in Fresno Unified." - Jennifer Lopez, Parent