The board of directors of the San Dieguito Union High School District approved the contract for its new headmistress, Cheryl James-Ward, at its October 14 meeting.
James-Ward, a Carmel Valley resident, is the former CEO and Chief Engagement and Innovation Officer of e3 Civic High, a charter school in downtown San Diego. Before joining e3 Civic High, she was a 14-year permanent professor at San Diego State University.
Dr. Cheryl James Ward has been named a finalist for the SDUHSD Superintendent Post.
(Courtesy)
James-Ward will be the district’s first black superintendent and her first official working day will be November 1st.
SDUHSD President Mo Muir said she believes James-Ward is a strong leader and innovative educator who can bring unity to the district: “I can’t say enough good things about her.”
“My hope is that this will be the beginning of a new era in this district,” said Trustee Michael Allman. “She is brilliant.”
James-Ward’s contract is for a three-year term with an annual salary of $ 288,000 and an auto grant of $ 10,000 – it does not include health insurance. The vote was not unanimous as Trustee Katrina Young opposed – Young said while she voted no, she did so with “great hope for the future.”
James-Ward said she was “ecstatic, honored and humble” to be the new superintendent of San Dieguito. In her introductory video to the district, she made a promise: “Together we will make progress.”
“As a Carmel Valley resident for over 16 years, I love our great community,” said Ward. “I take this position with open eyes and am aware of the conflicts and the effects they have on our educational community.”
Newsletter
Get the RSF Review delivered to your inbox weekly
Free the latest Rancho Santa Fe news every Thursday
Enter your email address
Sign me up
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Rancho Santa Fe Review.
She said she understood the role that secondary education needs to play in preparing all students to thrive in “a global society we cannot yet imagine”.
“Our focus should be on loving each and every one of our children and ensuring their spiritual, social and emotional wellbeing,” said James-Ward.
Allman noted that James-Ward’s résumé was so impressive it was “almost impossible to make up”. She began her career as a software engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but left because of a strong desire to teach math. She began her love affair by training to be a math teacher and dean of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
She was then Director of Academic Initiatives for the Long Beach Unified School District, Principal and Assistant Principal of the Long Beach Unified School District, and Director of Capri Elementary School in Encinitas.
During her tenure at SDSU, she was the founding director of the online Master of Arts program in Educational Leadership, led the SDSU Chinese and American Educational Leadership Symposium, and taught both Masters and PhD courses.
During the interview process, Muir said James-Ward described himself as “a heart like an angel but a nose like a rhinoceros”.
Peyton Parker, Torrey Pines High School Student Council Representative, and Olivia Pacheco, La Costa Canyon Student Council Representative, were both active in the headmaster’s search process, hoping that the next headmaster would be a teacher who understands what is going on in the classroom going on, and someone willing to communicate with students.
“I was thrilled when it was discovered that Dr. If you were a previous teacher, that’s what the students really wanted, ”Peyton said.
Ginny Merrifield, alumni parent and board member at e3 Civic, praised the board’s election during a public comment.
“DR. Ward is one of the most inspiring educators I have ever met. Her integrity, work ethic and commitment to students are unparalleled,” said Merrifield. “One of her special gifts is to inspire teachers … I feel confident that teachers they will love and the community can come together and heal. “
During the public comment, parent Evan Sorem was critical of the board’s superintendent search. He said the three week trial and public submission sessions were “a charade” and questioned the need to hire a foreign company to lead a nationwide search for someone who lived directly in the community – he blamed the board of directors, James – Was “in my back pocket all the time”.
“This is crazy, you’re crazy,” said Sorem.
He also questioned James-Ward’s association with Merrifield, who also serves as the executive director of the North County’s Parents’ Association, which has challenged the state over reopening rules and masking requirements.
During her comments, Merrifield said the allegations that she was somehow involved in the selection were false. She said she was briefed on the selection of James-Ward by the chairman of the e3 Civic board last week and had never spoken to James-Ward personally about the opportunity.
In response to Sorem’s comments, SDUHSD Vice President Melissa Mossy said the process was “exhaustive” and that they had taken public feedback seriously and set the bar high.
Trustee Young not only voted against her contract, but was the only one against James-Ward as a finalist for the position. She said she voted in a way she believed was in the best interests of the district, but she finds James-Ward smart, savvy, and competent – she didn’t want to publicly share her reasons for her choice until she got the opportunity had to speak to her James-Ward.
“I want Dr. Ward and the whole ward know that I want nothing but their success and nothing but the success of this district, ”said Young. “She has 100% of my support.”
At the meeting, the board also expressed its appreciation for Interim Superintendent Lucile Lynch, who has led the district for the past five months.
Muir said Lynch came during one of the most difficult times for the district and brought real collaboration, a sense of calm and improved communication between the board, staff and community.
“You really were a problem solver,” said Mossy. “You were the right woman for the job.”
Assistant Superintendent Bryan Marcus said Lynch was the first car in the parking lot in the morning and the last to leave – he also noted their calm, willingness to listen and care for the students.
“Thank you for being very dear to our part of the city,” said Marcus.
Comments are closed.