Ed Cora, principal of Tommie Kunst Junior High School in Santa Maria, was appointed superintendent of Guadalupe Union School District at a special board meeting at Mary Buren Elementary School on May 25.
The school board unanimously approved his appointment, as a packed room of spectators looked on. People from the Guadalupe district and the Santa Maria-Bonita School District gathered at the meeting to express their support for Cora. Prior to the meeting, Cora went around the multipurpose room, shaking hands and introducing himself to each attendant.
Cora has 27 years of experience in the realm of education, with 16 of those years in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. He served as Battles Elementary principal for seven years, until he became principal of the then-new Tommie Kunst Junior High in 2004. He also served as Righetti High School’s football coach.
For his new role as superintendent, Cora told the Sun, “I’m excited. It’s a great opportunity.”
After he signed his job contract at the meeting, Cora gave a small speech expressing his gratitude and goals for his new role.
“I always am forever grateful to those who give me opportunities,” he said, referencing the Guadalupe community and the Guadalupe Union School District Board of Education.
As superintendent, Cora said he intends to be very involved with the Guadalupe community beyond the district.
“I want to listen—and learn—to the Guadalupe community, the people, and the schools,” he said.
Cora also said he’ll make frequent visits to both schools in the district: Mary Buren Elementary and Kermit McKenzie Junior High School.
“If I’m going to miss anything [from being a principal], it’s interacting with the kids,” he admitted.
After Cora spoke, current superintendent Hugo E. Lara said Cora “made a wise choice to apply to the district.”
Lara said he’s excited he personally knows his successor, and knows it will be easy to transition because of their pre-existing bond.
“I know you’ll take care of ‘our’ district,” Lara said.
“Because it’s mine now,” Cora added, laughing.
Lara said Cora will immediately aid in the search for a new principal for Kermit McKenzie Junior High School.
Cora will officially begin on July 1 with a salary of $126,500. He’s replacing Lara, who has been superintendent of the district for the past 27 years.
This article appears in Jun 2-9, 2011.