Courtesy photo.
SANTA MARIA — A new superintendent, Antonio Garcia, has been chosen to lead the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District after an eight-month search.
The SMJUHSD Board of Education Tuesday night voted to hire Mr. Garcia during the regular meeting. Mr. Garcia’s contract starts January 1, 2020.
Mr. Garcia currently serves as Riverside Unified School District’s Assistant Superintendent of Professional Growth Systems. He takes over for acting superintendent John Davis and former superintendent Dr. Mark Richardson.
“I feel genuinely honored to be selected as the new superintendent of the Santa Maria Joint Union HS District,’’ Garcia said. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Education for your confidence in my ability to lead the school district in this capacity. I am also grateful to the community of stakeholders who were involved in the input process, including staff and families. Thirty years ago, I was called to a career in education when I worked in Migrant Ed and realized I needed to pursue a career in teaching. After all, it was educators who, along with my parents, are credited for putting my life on a trajectory that would have turned out very differently otherwise, particularly given the assets and challenges of growing up as an English Learner in an immigrant household. Today, I answer another calling that feels just as strong – to this culturally rich and beautiful community of Santa Maria, a place that will soon be our new home for me and my family.”
“It has been a long process but the board was unanimous that Mr. Antonio Garcia was the best person to lead the district as the next Superintendent,’’ said board president Dominick Palera.
Board member Dr. Jack Garvin agreed.
“Antonio Garcia brings a rich and extensive personal and professional background to the Superintendency of the high school district,’’ Garvin said. “In reviewing the community feedback from the 700 plus surveys that advised the board as to the profile we should use for hiring our next superintendent, he was the candidate that most closely fit that profile. Welcome to Santa Maria. We look forward to your leadership.”
Mr. Garcia began his career as a high school teacher for the Whittier Union High School District before joining RUSD in 1999. He has served as an assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent of K-12 curriculum & instruction and worked for the Riverside County Office of Education. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a master’s degree from Brown University.
Mr. Garcia and his wife Maria have two daughters.
Leadership Associates of Santa Barbara conducted the search for the new superintendent. More than two-dozen applications from California and nationwide were received and several applicants were interviewed.