Five New Area Superintendents Appointed to the San Diego Schools

In June 2006, Superintendent Carl Cohn appointedHe holds a Ph.D. in educational administration from the
five new area superintendents for the San DiegoUniversity of Texas at Austin, an MA in education
Schools.from Texas Women's University, and a BA in
Each new area superintendent will be an advocatetheology from Howard Payne University in
for the schools under them, as well as theBrownwood, Texas. Aleman, who is proficient in
communities for these schools. They will beSpanish, was the associate superintendent for
empowered to ensure that the San Diego Schoolsteaching and learning at the Isaac School District in
have a fully enriched and competitive curriculum thatPhoenix, Arizona. Previously, he served as director of
recognizes the importance of the educational basics,policies, procedures and public information in the San
as well as the nearly forgotten art, music and physicalAntonio Independent School District.
education programs. They will be responsible forIn addition to these five new appointments, the San
expanding in their San Diego Schools partnershipsDiego Schools filled three other positions through
between parents, the community, businesses andrecent appointments.
higher education. Each student is to be ensured asDorothy Harper is the new associate superintendent
smooth a transition as possible for students andfor parent, community and student engagement.
parents, especially in the early years.Harper earned her MA in education from Memphis
These five appointments complete key staffing ofState University and bachelor's degree in biology from
top leadership positions in the San Diego Schools.Dillard University. Her experience includes vice
Each of the five areas within the San Diego Schoolspresident of development for the Newton Learning
will include up to 25 elementary schools and theirSupplemental Education Services, as well as area
nearby middle schools.superintendent, assistant superintendent, and deputy
The new area one superintendent is Carol Barry. Shesuperintendent at the Long Beach Unified School
earned an MA inn school administration from AzusaDistrict. In her new position, Harper will work to
Pacific University and a BA in liberal studies from Sanestablish a comprehensive, consolidated system of
Diego State University. Before her appointment,support that will engage parents, the community, and
Barry served as acting assistant superintendent forstudents within the San Diego Schools.
the San Diego Schools. Previously, she was theArun Ramanathan, an advanced doctoral fellow at
principal at several San Diego Schools.Harvard, is the new executive director for
The area two superintendent is Dr. Hye Junggovernmental relations. He earned an MA in special
(Chelsea) Kang-Smith. Kang-Smith holds an Ed.D. fromeducation and elementary education from Boston
the University of Southern California, MS in educationCollege, and a BA in government from Dartmouth.
from California Southern University Fullerton, and herPrior to his appointment, Ramanathan was research
BS in biology from the University of California Irvine.director for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Kang-Smith came to the San Diego Schools in 2005,He will serve as an advocate for the San Diego
where she first served as principal in Anaheim UnionSchools to state legislators on issues and laws
High School District and most recently as assistantaffecting the school district.
superintendent.Dr. Kyo Yamashiro is the San Diego Schools' new
Dr. Richard Cansdale is the area three superintendent.director of school management. She holds a Ph.D.
He holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership from thefrom UCLA, which she received in June of 2006 as a
United States International University, an Ed.S. fromtop doctoral candidate. She earned an MA in
Point Loma Nazarene University, an MA in educationadministration and policy analysis and a BA in English
of exceptional children from San Francisco University,literature from Stanford University. Prior to her
and a BA in elementary education from the Universityappointment, she was a research and evaluation
of Nevada at Reno. Previously, Cansdale was theconsultant for the Long Beach Unified School District.
principal at Cherokee Point Elementary School in theIn her new position, Yamashiro works with the
San Diego Schools.School Choice programs, including charter schools, No
The area four superintendent is Vincent Matthews,Child Left Behind program improvement, and
who was a 2006 fellow of the Broadenrollment options program -- magnet schools and
Superintendent's Academy. He earned an MA involuntary ethnic enrollment programs (VEEP) are
educational administration and a BA in elementaryincluded.
education from San Francisco State University.These appointments excite the San Diego Schools. All
Before his appointment, Matthews was an educatorwill serve well the more than 132,000 students in the
in residence for the NewSchools Venture Fund in SanSan Diego Schools, the second largest school district
Francisco. Prior to that, he was an advisor to 35in California. With more than 216 educational facilities,
charter schools that serves approximately 9,000these talented and motivated appointees will be a
low-income students.plus for the San Diego Schools.
Dr. Delfino Aleman, Jr. is the area five superintendent.