Highlights as Superintendent
Developed and implemented a vision for learning focused on the belief in each student's ability to achieve in all aspects: social- emotional learning, community life, and career readiness.
Fully implemented the Achievement Team at each school site for monitoring and supporting academic acceleration using formative assessment and research-based strategies, coordinated and documented using Individual Learning Plans to collaboratively track and support each student.
Used systems planning, project management, community engagement and collaborative teaming to focus and manage for real-time impact to include facilities improvement projects.
Completed Measure H Facilities Improvement Projects and a new 2022 Facilities Master Plan with Educational Specifications and Outdoor Learning and Curb Appeal projects with identified funded projects underway.
Championed and provided the backbone for the NMC Community Alliance with many community partners to include the local recreation center and a non-profit 501C3 resulting in a strategic plan and outside funding to develop a Community Schools model with a Family Resource Center, School Wellness Centers, as well as other enrichment programs outside of the school day.
School Superintendent
North Monterey County Unified School District: Castroville, CA.
July 2012-August 2023
NMCUSD serves an unincorporated area of 70 square miles north of Salinas and Marina and south of Watsonville and Aromas San Juan covering Castroville, Moss Landing, Oak Hills, Prunedale and Salinas along 101 Hwy.
There are 8 schools: 4 elementary serving preschool-6th grade, a middle (7/8th), comprehensive high school (9-12th), continuation high school (10-12th) and accredited TK-12 School of Choice-NMC Center of Independent Study founded in 1980. In addition, infant/toddler and adult education programs and a Family Resource Center are run by the District.
In 2020, the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools published a report called State of Crisis: Dismantling Student Homelessness in California. This 87-page report addresses underlying challenges impacting academic success for students experiencing homelessness. NMCUSD ranked 10th in the list of CA school districts with the highest percentage of homeless students statewide within that report but had a 91% graduation rate for homeless and foster youth students (pg 54-56).
NMCUSD’s 2023 unduplicated count is 86% (low income, English Learner, Foster Youth).
FOCUSED WORK IN NMCUSD:
Improved and expanded multiple modes of communication and increased community engagement by having students promote and share highlights.
Navigated and creatively responded to changes in education during and post pandemic to include offering online TK-12 school of choice, ensuring 1:1 technology and hotspots for each students, and adding school based mental health counselors, behavior technicians and school psychologist to each site.
Developed equitable, safe, respectful and healthy school environments in support of students, staff and parents wellness resulting in all schools and the central office becoming Blue Zone certified.
Implemented model inclusive practices for students with special needs to include a model Autism spectrum inclusion program.
Passed and implemented Measure H facilities improvement bond and completed an updated new Facilities Master Plan with supporting concept maps, budgets, educational specifications and priority list of projects underway with one-time funding.
Provided training and implemented practices to promote inclusive and equitable workplaces that include hiring former alumni and community members and promoting current employees.
Successfully managed collective bargaining and productive outcomes with employee groups and maintained a balanced operating budget.
Obtained significant grant funding for expanding student programs and services and met all related accountability outcomes.
Expanded preschool and TK classrooms at each elementary school, provided free adult education classes and parent workshops, and developed parent ambassadors, and offered 6AM to 6 PM programming at each school campus and during breaks and summer.
Associate Superintendent
K-12 Program Improvement and Secondary School
Assistant Superintendent: K-12 Curriculum and Instruction during 2006-2007
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District: Serving schools in Monterey, Del Rey Oaks, Seaside, Marina
July 2006-June 2012
Oversight of all K-12 curriculum, instruction, assessments including teacher and principal coaching support.
Designed and implemented professional development for principals and teachers with oversight of new teacher support and student teaching programs K-12.
Expanded teacher representation via a K-12 Curriculum Council promoting shared decision making and open and consistent communication structures..
Conducted classroom walkthroughs and observations for effective instructional practices and hundreds of interviews with teachers, staff and school administrators regarding ways to improve effectiveness.
Provided ongoing professional development for K-12 teachers to include $600K for mathematics and a $6 million GEARUp grant for professional development in Language Acquisition.
Designed and implemented training regarding effective evaluation process to provide differentiated support for K-12 teachers; supporting principals in creating and maintaining positive school cultures and having difficult conversations.
Supervised 25 central administrators within the Educational Services department overseeing K-12 programs and services to include: Advanced Placement and Academic Academies, Gifted & Talented K-12 programs, Dual Language K-8, Teacher Support and Professional Development and all after school programs for all K-12 schools
Provided oversight of eleven K-5 elementary school and directly supervised 9 middle and high schools, adult education and alternative education.
Developed and managed all categorical programs and related school budgets estimated at $25 million.
Developed a Community Collaborative of over 150 local agencies and organizations and related community meetings to enhance parent engagement and involvement.
Oversight of all district formal advisory groups to include DELAC, District Parent Advisory Committee, District Leadership Team
Establish improved communications with various stakeholders and wrote public documents, press releases, presented at public meetings and interacted with the media.
Coordinator/Admin. of Assessment and school improvement
Monterey county office of education: Educational Services Department
january 2005-July 2006
Lead as the Monterey County Assessment Coordinator/Administrator:
Provided training and technical support to 24 districts regarding (a) Statewide assessments (STAR Math/ELA/Science, CELDT/Aprenda for English Learners, CAPA per IEPs, CA High School Exit, Advance Placement, Early Assessment Program for college readiness, etc.) and (b) accountability metrics to include the Academic Performance Index and related metrics for accountability, State recognition and identification for support.
Attended and represented Monterey County at CA Department of Education monthly Assessment and Accountability Network meetings to obtain in-depth training and information on how the developing CA School Accountability System was evolving and the technical aspects of data/reporting critical to assist schools and districts in understanding and using assessment data for improving student learning outcomes.
Lead as Monterey County Regional System for School and District Support Coordinator/Administrator:
Partnered with Santa Clara County Office of Education and Hollister County Office of Education to implement requirements for District Program Improvement and support to schools in Program Improvement.
Facilitated and supported District Leadership Teams in 8 identified school districts in Monterey County to build capacity of each district’s leadership structures and related supports to schools to improve academic performance for all students.
Provided training and support to middle and high schools in effective student drive master schedules and related courses to accelerate learning and support high school graduation and A-G completion rates.
Developed curriculum and trained principals and lead teachers (grades 4-8) on the required implementation of the adopted English language arts materials (AB75 certified program).
Site Administrator
Assistant Principal, then Principal
North Monterey County Unified School District: Moss landing Middle School July 1999-January 2005
Closed the academic achievement gap, as measured by California’s Academic Performance Index (API) by over 75 points bringing the school from a 4 out of 10 at baseline to a 9 out of 10 in similar school rankings overall and within each student subgroup.
Structured an effective master schedule for serving 6-8th graders that appropriately assigned staff, promoted efficient instructional time for all core academic classes, and incorporated services and programs for targeted instruction for various students.
6th grade “families” structure developed to provide teaming for core courses and an exploratory elective wheel to include world languages, art, MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Academy), AVID and Health.
Developed Professional Learning Communities by grade level/department, held weekly articulation meetings, and implemented school- wide reading and math programs.
Provided a full after school program and intensives for accelerating learning, increased student activities, and implemented service learning and career pathway curriculum.
CLASSROOM Teaching Experience: 1991-1997
Casimir Middle School (8th grade ELA/ELD & Social Studies): Torrance USD, Torrance CA. 09/1994-06/1997
South Whittier Middle School (8th grade ELA/ELD): South Whittier School District, Whittier, CA. 08/1992-08/1994
Bethune Jr. High School (7th grade ELA and Drama) l: Los Angeles USD, South Central Los Angeles, CA. Spring Semester 1992 Student Teaching
Santa Monica High School (9th grade English): Santa Monica USDSanta Monica, CA Fall Semester 1991 Student Teaching
Long term substitute for elementary school (3rd grade self-contained all subjects): Spring 1991.