Embattled Santa Barbara Unified School District Superintendent Hilda Maldonado has hired an executive coach to help her develop leadership skills.
“All information provided during the coaching engagement remains private and confidential,” according to a proposal from coach Gail Ginder. “As Hilda’s coach, I do not report back to anyone at Santa Barbara Unified School District.”
The district’s Board of Trustees approved the $13,000 contract at its Aug. 9 meeting as part of the consent calendar. Such items are not discussed individually and are voted on as a group.
The vote was 4-0, with members Laura Capps, Kate Ford, Rose Munoz and Wendy Sims-Moten in support. Board member Virginia Alvarez was absent from the meeting. The money comes from the district’s general fund.
Maldonado has been under fire from teachers and staff amid departures of many administrative leaders in the past two years, since she was hired. Longtime employees Frann Wageneck, Shawn Carey and Todd Ryckman were among those who departed from the district.
The school district board recently hired a Los Angeles firm to conduct exit interviews of 15 executive employees who recently left the organization.
The decision to conduct third-party exit interviews came as a result of growing dissatisfaction with Maldonado, and mounting public pressure on the school board to take action.
The hiring of the executive coach comes a year after a teacher and employee survey heavily criticized Maldonado for her leadership efforts. Earlier this year, teachers from the various high schools protested outside the district headquarters. In January 2021, the school district authorized $50,000 to hire a reputation management consultant.
All but one member of Maldonado’s district leadership team has left since she joined the district, except for John Becchio, assistant director of human resources.
In an effort to promote bonding among new members of her team, administrators played pretend zookeeper and participated in ceramics during a two-day retreat this summer.
A majority of the school board members has consistently defended Maldonado throughout the turmoil. Two of them won’t be around in a few months. Ford is not pursuing re-election and Capps was elected to another office.
Ford said she wished she would have had a coach early in her career, adding that the expense is “well worth it.”
“We are working hard together to improve the communication, collaboration and shared decision-making throughout the district,” Ford said. “In my experience, a good executive coach is very helpful in providing leaders with meaningful, honest criticism as well as suggestions for strategies to address challenges. I was very pleased when Dr. Maldonado requested a coach. To me, it represents a willingness to learn and grow and be open to feedback.”
Maldonado did not respond to Noozhawk’s request for comment about the contract on Wednesday.
“Coaching is not advice, therapy or counseling,” the contract with Ginder states. “It is a relationship of equals where accountability for moving forward lies with the individual being coached; responsibility for providing insights, challenges and coaching support lies with me. If Hilda believes that the coaching services are not meeting expectations at any time, I will expect her to let me know immediately. Together we will review the coaching process and make adjustments as necessary to further progress on her goals.”
The coaching contract will last six months and cost $9,950 plus travel expenses.
“I will interview eight to 12 colleagues identified by Hilda,” the proposal states. “Findings will be summarized in a report and communicated to her. Together, we will identify themes from this assessment and incorporate these findings into her coaching goals.
“Although the legal privilege between health care professionals and their patients does not apply to coaches and their clients, I will not disclose our communications, unless required by law.”
Sims-Moten said the contract will help Maldonado.
“Leaders need support, too,” she said. “These are challenging times, and you need that support.”
Sims-Moten said she has benefitted from executive coaching in her career.
“It allows you to have different perspectives,” she said. “It is mostly about getting insight into yourself.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
