Superintendents were on the move right through the end of the year. District Administration is maintaining a running list of new hires and promotions.
Special focus is given to sitting superintendents transferring to new posts, high-profile districts, notable minority hires and when the district provides ample information on the hire. The latest round of hiring features several new female superintendents.
Natasha Baker takes the helm as superintendent of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District in California on Jan. 1. She was most recently the chief academic officer in Fresno USD and previously served as the superintendent for Banning USD.
Melissa Schneider will become superintendent of Missouri’s Parkway Schools on July 1. She is currently assistant superintendent of learning services at the Thompson School District in Colorado.
Nyack Public Schools in New York has promoted interim superintendent Lisette Ruiz-Giovinazzi to the full-term position. Before becoming the interim, she had been the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction since 2022.
In June, Judith Campbell will become superintendent of Township High School District 211, the largest high school district in Illinois. Campbell is now deputy superintendent of Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools.
More new hires
- Ryan Bowman, Wendell School District (Idaho)
- Rashad Javed Rana, Monte Alto ISD (Texas)
Superintendents on the move: Dec. 11
Superintendents, like many others in the workforce, are often on the move. District Administration is maintaining a running list of new hires and promotions.
Special focus is given to sitting superintendents transferring to new posts, high-profile districts, notable minority hires and when the district provides ample information on the hire.
Mesa Public Schools, Arizona largest district, is in the process of promoting Matthew Strom as its next superintendent.
Strom, a 27-year education veteran, has been Mesa’s associate superintendent since July 2024 and previously served as assistant superintendent of K12 Education at Chandler USD, Arizona’s second-largest district.
Superintendents on the move: More new hires
- Greg Blake, Chico Unified School District (California)
- Sarah Cox, Tombstone Unified School District #1 (Arizona)
- Trent Eshleman, Iroquois West School District (Illinois)
- Jeff Hutchins, Hawkins ISD (Texas)
- Jerry Jessee, Bath County Public Schools (Virginia)
- Mary Johnston, Graham ISD (Texas)
- Michael Plourde, Meridian Community Unit School District #223 (Illinois)
- Richard Rogers, Houston County School District (Georgia)
- Christopher A. Schiffert, Whitehall-Coplay School District (Pennsylvania)
- Daniel W. Smith, Stafford County Public Schools (Virginia)
- Peter Tragos, New Trier Township High School District 203, (Illinois)
Superintendents on the move: Nov. 14
The Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 in the Chicago suburbs named Jennifer Norrell its new superintendent. Norrell has been superintendent of East Aurora School District 131 since 2018, overseeing an annual $300 million budget. She was the district’s first female superintendent and was named a regional superintendent of the year.
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The Moses Lake School District in Washington promoted interim leader Carol Lewis as its next superintendent. As interim superintendent, she led the district in restructuring district finances, navigating a substantial budget shortfall and implementing measures to ensure long-term financial stability, the district announced.
More new hires
- Jason Calichman, Swampscott Public Schools (Massachusetts)
- Philip D’Agostino, Rosemead School District (California)
- Hope McBrain, Hillsboro School District (Illinois)
- Russ Tepen, Pikeland CUSD 10 (Illinois)
