Santa Maria’s high school district will lose its superintendent at the end of this school year, and another longtime administrator plans to apply for the soon-to-be opened position.
After seven years leading the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District and 31 years in education, Superintendent Mark Richardson announced on April 12 that he plans to retire after this year.
What played a large role in Richardson’s decision to leave now, he said, is the district’s highly competent staff, stability, and recent growth and overall improvements. Richardson said he’s confident that he’s leaving the district in a good place, and that it will “continue upward” once he’s gone.
“I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t feel that way,” he told the Sun.
In his time at the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, Richardson and his team have put full-time pupil counselors at each high school, created a cohesive district-wide approach to curriculum taught in all subjects, and made strides to improve parent engagement through trainings and an online parent portal.
A number of facility improvement projects have been completed on the district’s campuses since Richardson took the lead, including a recently completed 38-classroom complex at Ernest Righetti High School, major updates to Santa Maria High School’s campus, and a new performing arts center at Pioneer Valley High. Several other similar projects are still underway.
The superintendent also acted as an advocate for Career Technical Education, working to implement a number of new career tech pathways within the district—a few years ago there were only two such pathways offered, Richardson said, and next year there will be 43—and helping to break ground on a district-wide career tech and agricultural center.
It’s been a good run, but Richardson said he’s ready to leave the work to someone else while he focuses on spending time with his family, being a grandfather, and relaxing outdoors.
“I always felt like every day I’ve spent in this profession has been rewarding,” Richardson said, “and that’s a good place to be.”
Now the search for his replacement begins.
The district received the search process plan on the week of April 15, according to Kenny Klein, the district’s public information officer, and a new superintendent is expected to take over by January 2020.
During a special meeting on April 16, Klein said the district’s board of education approved a $23,500 payment to Leadership Associates, a company that will conduct a nationwide search for potential candidates. The board also voted to appoint John Davis, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, as acting superintendent.
Davis, who has been with the district for eight years, said he’s worked alongside fellow administrators and Richardson to address the district’s challenges and help it grow. Davis said he’s been highly involved in the decision-making and planning processes at the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, and said he’s seen major positive changes since he started.
He hopes to continue that work as the district’s permanent superintendent, and he said he’ll be applying for the position as soon as possible.
Staff Writer Kasey Bubnash writes School Scene each week. Information can be sent to the Sun via mail, fax, or email at mail@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 25 – May 2, 2019.