The Santa Barbara Unified School District is experiencing a leadership exodus, with five senior officials departing in the past month.
Maria Larios-Horton, the district’s executive director of diversity, equity and family engagement, left in June after being hired as principal at Brandon School in the Goleta Union School District.
Sources said she informed Superintendent Hilda Maldonado that she was leaving after a board meeting, and cleaned out her office that same evening because she had a pre-approved vacation the following day.
Todd Ryckman, the former chief educational technology officer, resigned from his position and was re-assigned a history teacher position at Santa Barbara High School.
In his place, Brian Rowse, the former director of educational technology services, was named the district’s chief information officer.
Mauricio Ortega, former principal at Goleta Valley Junior High, was named director of educational technology services. A process is underway to select a new principal at GVJHS.
Anne Roundy Harter, former director of secondary education, is now director of school and district support for the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
Meg Jette, the district’s longtime fiscal services manager, retired in June, although sources said she had requested another six months to obtain full retirement benefits.
Chelsea Guillermo-Wann, director of research and evaluation, also departed the district recently.
“I see it as part of what happens every year in a school district, with changes typically around June,” Maldonado told Noozhawk.
Retirements and resignations to seek other opportunities are standard in the summer, she said.
Sources, however, told Noozhawk that Maldonado, who was hired from the Los Angeles Unified School District a year ago to replace Cary Matsuoka, has brought a new tone to the culture of the district, one that is demanding and, at times, “disrespectful” to employees.
One source who asked not to be identified out of fear of retribution, said Maldonado “kills spirits.”
Maldonado said it is par for the course and nothing out of the ordinary.
“Sometimes when a new leader comes in, with a new lens and perspective, there does come a time when people feel our visions are not aligned and that causes them discomfort, and they maybe even seek other positions,” she said.
Maldonado declined to talk about individual cases, citing personnel concerns. She did say that, as a female person of color, she is “aware of characteristics attributed to me.”
She said she’s committed to an agenda that puts students at the center “and sometimes there are truths to be told that could make people feel uncomfortable.”
District board president Kate Ford said Maldonado received a positive review in her first year.
“It is normal and in fact expected, accepted that there will be organizational changes and possible personnel changes when a new superintendent is hired, based on the goals of the board and the district,” she said.
“The (COVID-19) pandemic intensified this, as you can imagine, and the board directed Hilda to open schools safely and create the district structures to better serve the students during these difficult times and in the uncertain future.”
Ford said she has not heard of morale issues in the district.
“Hilda is demanding, and she has high expectations for her staff,” she said. “I love this trait.”
Ford said the school board “strongly supports Dr. Maldonado’s vision and actions regarding curriculum, instruction, operations, communications, finance, response to the pandemic, and personnel.”
— 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.
