There’s a new superintendent in town. On April 8, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board of trustees announced during its weekly meeting that Doug Kimberly will replace Jeff Hearn as superintendent. Hearn is set to retire in June.
Kimberly is currently assistant superintendent of human resources for the Fullerton Joint Union High School District. He also served as principal of Sonora High School in La Habra, where he focused on improving academics for English-language learners.
Kimberly has experience teaching history, economics, and health education. He was also named CIF Water Polo Coach of the Year in 1992 for leading the Esperanza High School boys’ water polo team to CIF championships in 1992, and again in 1994.
Assistant superintendent John Robertson said Kimberly is a perfect fit for the district.
“We were looking for someone with a good understanding of the needs of our district,” Robertson said. “Doug offered that.”
The Board of Trustees, Robertson said, was informed by Hearn of his plans to retire about a year and a half ago. In November 2008, the board hired Leadership Associates to conduct a nationwide search for a superintendent candidate. Over a three-month period, the board narrowed its pool of qualified candidates down to Kimberly.
In an interview with the Sun, outgoing superintendent Hearn said the district —and its new superintendent—will face some considerable challenges in the future.
“Unquestionably—whether it’s our district or any other district in the state—this budget is going to cause quite a few problems over the next few years,” Hearn said.
Solving the district’s financial troubles will be a difficult task, Hearn added. But he expects Kimberly and the rest of the district’s employees to meet those troubles head on.
“Despite the financial difficulties facing the district now, I have great confidence in the board and district staff,” Hearn said. “From years of experience working with them, I know they’ll do what’s right for the kids. They’ll put the kids first no matter what decisions have to be made.”
Hearn’s career in education spans more than 40 years, including 25 years in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, for which he became the superintendent in 2000.
The long-time Santa Maria resident was instrumental in managing funds secured for the district’s high schools through two education bonds, measures C2000 and C2004. The money went toward building Pioneer Valley High School, and facility improvements to Santa Maria and Righetti high schools.
This article appears in Apr 16-23, 2009.
