Announcement Details
Announcement Message
Originally posted on Oct. 23, 2024:
Dear SFUSD Students and Families:
It is my honor to serve as your new superintendent at San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
As a fellow San Franciscan, a former SFUSD parent, and a lifelong public servant dedicated to the betterment of our children and families, I understand the profound responsibility that comes with this role. Our public schools are the bedrock of our city – where dreams are nurtured, futures are shaped, and where our community comes together.
As I step into this new role, my immediate priorities are to balance SFUSD’s budget to maintain local control, rebuild trust with our community, and tackle the operational hurdles that have hampered our progress.
I know that the district faces tremendous challenges. It has been a bumpy road and there are many difficult decisions ahead.
These challenges are complex, and there are no shortcuts. Throughout the process I will keep you updated frequently with timely, accurate, and accessible information. I am confident that, with the support of our dedicated educators, staff, families, and City and State partners, we can turn the corner together.
While I am not an educator by training, I am a leader with a proven track record of building strong teams across different systems, overcoming obstacles, and navigating through crises. I have led the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families for the past 15 years through many challenging times. And I have always kept our families and youth at the heart of every decision I made.
I promise that I will bring that same dedication, compassion, and solutions-oriented approach to SFUSD. Over the next few weeks, I will immerse myself in school communities, meeting with students, staff, and families to hear directly from you what is important for our schools. I am eager to meet you, to listen to you, and to learn from you. I am committed to setting SFUSD students up for lifelong success.
Together, we can and we will build a brighter future for all of San Francisco's public schools.
In community,
Dr. Maria Su, SFUSD Superintendent
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FAQs about Dr. Su's appointment as the new SFUSD superintendent:
How will this arrangement work?
The Board of Education is appointing Dr. Su to be the new Superintendent. Dr. Su will remain a city employee, as the Superintendent does not need to be an SFUSD employee. Dr. Su will serve under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SFUSD and the City and County of San Francisco where the City will release Dr. Su to serve as Superintendent under the direction of the Board of Education. The MOU will be valid through June 2026.
What is the teaching credential waiver that the Board of Education approved on Oct. 22, 2024? How does it affect Dr. Su’s eligibility to serve as superintendent?
There are many districts that hire superintendents who do not come from a background in education. The California Education Code provides a statute that allows school districts to appoint non-credentialed individuals by utilizing the waiver process. This is not unique to San Francisco; this is a process that is available to any district in the state to allow people who are not credentialed to lead a school district.
With a strong track record, Dr. Su brings experience in building teams and leading a large government agency. In her 15 years leading the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF), Dr. Su has dedicated her career to public service and to make San Francisco a great place for children to grow up. Dr. Su is uniquely qualified to lead SFUSD given her expertise in addressing systems challenges to improve our public schools.
Dr. Su will work closely with Dr. Karling Aguilera-Fort, who has agreed to serve as Deputy Superintendent. Dr. Aguilera-Fort has a long history in SFUSD as a special education teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent in charge of supervising PK-12 schools.
Will the Board of Education conduct a search for the superintendent, and when can the community provide their input?
Dr. Su’s contract with SFUSD is through June 30, 2026. At any point, either SFUSD or the City has the option to end the agreement, and the Board of Education has the authority to initiate a search for a superintendent. SFUSD is committed to meaningful community engagement on major decisions. Typically, a superintendent search is a confidential hiring process.
Dr. Su is committed to rebuilding trust with the community and stabilizing the district.
What is going to happen with the City of San Francisco’s partnership with SFUSD?
Dr. Su will be taking leave from her employment with the City. She will be under the direction of the San Francisco Board of Education. Mayor London Breed has committed to ongoing resources and support through her school stabilization team.
What are the priorities that Dr. Maria Su will focus on?
To stabilize the school district, Dr. Su will work closely with Deputy Superintendent Dr. Karling Aguilera-Fort and district staff to meet SFUSD’s ambitious student outcome goals. Dr. Su’s leadership team will focus on three priorities:
- Maintain local control by implementing a budget stabilization plan, which includes a plan to staff schools and deliver educational services and programs critical to student success.
- Restore trust and public confidence in SF public schools through accurate, timely, and accessible communications, robust community and school outreach, and cultivating strategic partnerships.
- Restore, remediate, and develop healthy operations systems with improved oversight and accountability.
What will happen to school closures?
At the direction of Board of Education leadership, Dr. Su will stop the current school closure process and focus on addressing the District’s looming structural deficit to avoid state takeover. There will be no school closures in the 2025-2026 school year. The remaining school meetings about closures will be suspended.
Declining student enrollment is not unique to San Francisco. Dr. Su will work with Dr. Karling Aguilera-Fort to mitigate its impacts while ensuring that the District delivers educational services and programs critical to student success, particularly for student populations most vulnerable to the opportunity gaps. Moving forward, SFUSD must consider school mergers or closures as a potential strategy to mitigate the impacts of declining enrollment.
The Board of Education has made clear that any potential mergers or closures include thorough planning, preparation, and transparently communicating about the following:
- A CDE-certified fiscal analysis
- An independently verified equity audit
- Robust, meaningful community engagement
- An accessible and thoughtful transition plan
- A thorough analysis of student (re)assignment policies
We are confident that district leadership and staff have the skills to manage such a process moving forward.
What about the budget?
Addressing the looming structural deficit is one of the top priorities prior to the December 15, 2024 California Department of Education deadline. Dr. Su is committed to continue providing updates and community engagement opportunities around the budget during the school budget development process.
Is this a city takeover?
No. The Board of Education will be appointing Dr. Maria Su as the Superintendent and she will report to them exclusively. SFUSD needs a strong executive leader who is deeply rooted in San Francisco with a proven track record of success leading a large public institution. Dr. Su was appointed by then-Mayor Newsom, and is a long-time public leader who led the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families for 15 years.
Dr. Su has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children, youth, and families, particularly those who are most vulnerable. She has dedicated the last 20 years of her career in this field, and her desire to take on the superintendency is an extension of her care and stewardship towards a brighter future for San Francisco.