Superintendent hopefuls make the rounds
THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010 AT 6:38 P.M.
Now that the candidates for the San Diego's next school superintendent have been identified, the public vetting has begun.
Interim superintendent Bill Kowba, nonprofit leader Debbra A. Lindo of Oakland and former Hayward superintendent Dale W. Vigil held a whirlwind of meetings with media and community members on Thursday to promote their candidacy for the top job in California’s second-largest school district.
The San Diego Unified School District is searching for its fourth superintendent in less than five years. This time around, however, the school board lifted the veil of secrecy that typically keeps all applicants confidential, save for the winning candidate.
“San Diego would make a good case study,” said Melinda Martin, director of the Educational Leadership Development Academy at San Diego State University. “Regardless of the search process, what the district needs is a really strong superintendent with a strong focus.”
Kowba, who was hired by the district in 2006 as chief financial officer, has served the job on the interim twice. The former Navy rear admiral who spent 30 years in the service said he feels like a “quasi-educator” for the first time.
“The longer you stay in a job the more appreciation you develop for it,” said Kowba, 58, who has several education organizations and advocates rooting for him. “I have more in-depth appreciation for the district and I know the problems, the priorities and the people — that’s my advantage.”