During this difficult and contentious election season, it’s refreshing to see a candidate who enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support throughout Santa Barbara County. Susan Salcido, who is running for reelection as county superintendent of schools, is that candidate.
Dr. Salcido has been tested in crisis management to the extreme. In 2017 (the year she took office) she had to navigate the conditions created by the Thomas Fire. Then in 2018 she had to mitigate the tragic impacts of the debris flow. Since 2020 to the present, the COVID-19 pandemic has created one of the largest threats to our schools in our nation’s history. Susan’s priorities remained consistent and focused on children: keep students safe, keep schools open, and continue to focus on long-term excellence.
Dr. Salcido immediately recognized the growing mental health challenges for children and the lack of resources. Working in partnership with county mental health, the SB Foundation, and local school districts, she played a major role in brokering a $4 million grant to place mental health services on school campuses.
Susan is homegrown. She attended public schools in Santa Maria and earned two degrees from UCSB. She has worked on the front lines in education in this county for more than 26 years as a high school English teacher and coach, a junior high school principal, and deputy superintendent and superintendent of the County Education Office. She knows and understands regional differences and nuance. Susan is a trusted leader, bringing people together to resolve difficult issues.
Bill Cirone,
retired Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools
Solvang
This article appears in Jun 2-9, 2022.