Courtesy photo.
VENTURA COUNTY — Stan Mantooth this week announced his intention to retire from his position as Ventura County Superintendent of Schools effective February 1, 2021. Mantooth has served as Superintendent of Schools since he was appointed to the position in 2008. He was then elected to the office by voters three times in 2010, 2014 and 2018. “After more than 45 years in education, I feel privileged to have been – and will continue to be – an advocate for children, and I’m ready to begin the next chapter,” Mantooth said.
Mantooth began his career in education as a custodian for the Los Angeles Unified School District and worked his way up to Ventura County’s top post in public education. He spent seven years in executive management at the Oak Park Unified School District before joining the Ventura County Office of Education in 1996 as the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services. As County Superintendent of Schools, Mantooth leads an agency that employs nearly 1,000 people and provides teacher training and administrative support services to the County’s 20 school districts. VCOE also operates schools for students with special needs and provides career education for students countywide.
During Mantooth’s tenure, Ventura County saw significant increases in the high school graduation rate and an expanded focus on ensuring equitable access to educational resources for all students. Mantooth spearheaded the financing and construction of two major educational facilities in Camarillo. The VCOE Conference and Educational Services Center, which opened in 2007, hosts hundreds of workshops and events for educators, students and the public each year. The Mary E. Samples Education Services Center, which opened just last summer, is the new home of VCOE’s Triton Academy for students with autism. It could eventually house a high-tech makerspace that would become a field trip destination for students throughout Ventura County.
Mantooth has been recognized statewide for his educational leadership. He is a past president of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) and received the organization’s Champion Award in 2018. He is also a member of the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), which presented him with its Pinnacle Award in 2016. In addition, he is a member of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).
Mantooth has served on a variety of local committees and commissions including First 5 Ventura County, the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Ventura County School Boards Association. He also serves as the Chair of the Ventura County P-20 Council, which brings together local leaders in the education, government, business and nonprofit sectors to expand educational opportunity for students from preschool through higher education.
“Working to build a better future for young people is the greatest work in the world,” Mantooth said. “I’m honored to have spent my career on this endeavor and am extremely grateful to the countless people, from teachers and administrators to students and parents, who have joined me on this journey.”
Mantooth will continue working on behalf of public education in Ventura County in his new role on the Board of Trustees for the Ventura County Community College District. In November, he was elected as trustee for area three, which includes Camarillo, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Fillmore and parts of Oxnard.
The Ventura County Board of Education will appoint a successor to complete the remainder of Mantooth’s current term as County Superintendent of Schools. The position will then be on the ballot in the June 2022 election.
About the Ventura County Office of Education — The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.