October 2024
Leadership matters for California’s public education system and the more than six million students it serves. California Education Code Section 44015.1 observes the importance of educational leadership at the school, school district, and county levels, and designates the second full week in the month of October of each year as Week of the School Administrator.
Accordingly, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, which serves approximately 9,300 students in grades transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, acknowledges October 13-19, 2024, as Week of the School Administrator and publicly recognizes the contribution that school administrators make to student achievement.
While many associate principal or District Office leader as a school administrator, the term is broad used to define many education leadership positions in a school district, including superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, special education and adult education leaders, curriculum and assessment leaders, school business officials, classified educational leaders, and other school district leaders.
School administrators are passionate, lifelong learners who believe in the value of quality public education. Most school administrators began their careers as teachers. The average administrator has served in public education for more than a decade. Most of California’s superintendents have served in education for more than 20 years. Such experience is beneficial in their work to effectively and efficiently lead public education and improve student achievement.
Public schools operate with lean management systems. Across the nation, public schools employ fewer managers and supervisors than most public and private sector industries including transportation, food service, manufacturing, utilities, construction, publishing and public administration. In MPUSD, administrators comprise just six percent of its total employee base.
The future of California’s public education system depends upon the quality of its leadership and here in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, we thank and honor our administrators. Parents, guardians, teachers, staff and community at large are encouraged to acknowledge and express appreciation for MPUSD leaders.
