SDCOE Helps Districts Hire Leaders

It is often said that one of the most important things that a school board does is hire new district leadership. That’s why it’s a big deal when those board members trust SDCOE to help bring in their next leaders.

The Human Resource Services team has been helping school districts across the county with high-profile hiring for the last five years. However, recently, the number of districts reaching out for help has grown.

“We have earned a reputation now, so the volume has grown,” said Dr. Yolanda Rogers, assistant superintendent of Human Resource Services. “We’ve gotten so good at what we do that we get called back. That’s is the greatest compliment and a testament to the quality service we provide.”

This year, SDCOE has overseen the hiring process for five super-intendents and assistant superintendents in school districts, including Julian Union High, Vallecitos, Ramona Unified, and San Ysidro school districts.

“You and your staff have been a huge asset to us in this process, and we can’t thank you enough!” said Mike Darnley, Vallecitos School District board president.

Typically, the process starts with a board member contacting SDCOE. From there, Carol Tomeo and her team plan the search process from start to finish. The process is supported by Jessica Glover, Elva Uribe, Lauren Saincome, SDCOE retiree Chris Reising, and in collaboration with other teams such as Media and Creative Services and Communications.

The hiring process typically includes:

• Meetings with the district’s board of education
• Determining and then interviewing stakeholder groups
• Identifying desired leadership characteristics
• Advertising the position
• Screening applications
• Setting up interviews
• Recommending finalists
• Helping to announce the new leader

“Helping the boards to find the right person has just been a joy,” Tomeo said. “I’m really proud to have the opportunity to do this work on behalf of the County Office. I believe in our mission and our vision, and this is my contribution to what makes the county office great.”

Tomeo added she’s especially proud of the longevity of the leaders SDCOE has helped hire, since the longer superintendents have to fully realize their programs and changes, the better it is for students. The key to the team’s success is preparation and ensuring that they find and listen to all stakeholder groups.

“Yolanda Rogers, Chris Reising, and Carol Tomeo were amazing,” said Katy Moretti, president of the Julian Union High school board. “They understood what our district was looking for and updated me frequently throughout the posting process. I cannot say enough good things about this team. They are outstanding and for our small district a lifesaver.”

The SDCOE Human Resource Services team did a remarkable job conducting a statewide search for cabinet-level positions in our district that resulted in a strong pool of highly qualified candidates. Dr. Gina Potter, superintendent of San Ysidro School District