Office of the 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.