In a frank, extended interview, Santa Barbara Unified School District Superintendent Hilda Maldonado talks about the exodus of her cabinet, controversial teacher contract negotiations, and her views on SBTA president Hozby Galindo in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina.

She doesn’t back down.

“Obviously no leader ever wants to hear that it is some personal reason that they are leaving because of me as an individual,” Maldonado said. “That always feels like a little bit of an arrow through your heart.”

Dozens of executives have departed Santa Barbara Unified since Maldonado was hired in 2020.

In addition, the Santa Barbara Teachers Association just completed a nearly year-long public relations campaign to call for higher wages, with Maldonado and the school board the focus of their concerns.

Maldonado answers questions from journalist Josh Molina about her leadership style, why she believes people left the district, why she created a new COO position, which was later filled by a former colleague, and her thoughts on the teacher’s union and the possibility of a strike.

“The approach they took to negotiate has happened across many districts,” Maldonado said. “This is part of what some may call a playbook for negotiating these days.”

Maldonado said attacking the board and the superintendent were political tactics.

“I knew about it before we started,” Maldonado said. “I wasn’t surprised this was happening. I saw it way ahead.”

Click on the YouTube link above to watch the full hour-long podcast with Maldonado, where she walks the audience through her mindset, decisions and her future. She also shares her personal backstory about coming to the United States at 11 years old and learning English.

Check out SantaBarbaraTalks.com for more content and podcasts from journalist Josh Molina. Molina covers education, Santa Barbara City Hall and business for Noozhawk.com. He formerly worked at the San Jose Mercury News covering government, neighborhoods, City Hall and redevelopment. Consider a contribution to support this podcast at santabarbaratalks.com. The audio version of the podcast can also be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all podcast platforms.