Today the Board voted to select Dr. Cheryl James-Ward as our lone finalist for the position of Superintendent for SDUHSD. Ratification of her appointment will be on the Agenda for Thursday’s Regular Board Meeting. The vote was 3-1 with Trustee Young as the lone dissenter.
I am truly excited to welcome Dr. Ward.
We heard from community members, parents, teachers, students, and Board Trustees during the public comment phase. What was most important to these different groups is public school experience; California residency; experience as an educator; experience in public schools; visibility in the community; an understanding and awareness of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity; and a commitment to parents and students first. Dr. Ward checks every box.
Dr. Ward’s background:
Dr. Cheryl James-Ward is the CEO and Chief Engagement & Innovation Officer of e3 Civic High, recognized as one of the most innovative schools in the nation. Prior to joining e3 Civic High, Dr. Ward was a tenured professor for San Diego State University. While at SDSU, she served as the Founding Director of the online Master of Arts Program in Educational Leadership, led the SDSU Chinese and American Educational Leadership Symposiums, and taught both master’s and doctoral level courses. Now, as professor emeritus, Dr. Ward continues to support the doctoral program and chair dissertation committees.
Dr. Ward's other educational experiences include Director of Academic Initiatives for the Long Beach Unified School District with 15,000 students under her leadership. She has served as Principal and Vice Principal for the Long Beach Unified School District, Principal for Capri Elementary in Encinitas, and Dean of Student Discipline as well as Math Teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Dr. Ward is a renowned researcher in both leadership and 2030 education. She has published numerous articles in leadership and technology journals, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals Leadership Journal, Frontiers in Education Technology, Educational Administration Quarterly, ASCD Principal Leadership, Association of California School Administrators Leadership Journal, Voices in the Middle and Education Technology Review. She is the lead author for the book, Using Data to Focus Instructional Improvement.
Prior to her work in education, Dr. Ward was a software engineer for the Magellan Project at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Interim Superintendent Lucile Lynch. She came into a difficult situation and with a steady hand on the tiller, guided our District with skill, poise, strength, excellent leadership, improved communication, and a level of care that was truly above and beyond expectation. Our debt to her will never be fully paid. If you see her out and about in the community, please be sure to thank her for what, I’m sure, was one of the most difficult assignments of her career. She was the right person for the job, and I am extremely grateful. Now, she can take a well-earned vacation. I wish her the best of luck.
As Dr. Ward said today, Together, we move forward.