Dear GUSD families and staff,

I am writing to provide you with an update on the search for the next Superintendent in the Gilroy Unified School District.

Leadership Associates, the executive search firm that the Board of Education hired to assist with this process, is actively recruiting qualified candidates.  So far, more than 20 applications have been submitted, and their staff is conducting reference and background checks.  The Board’s goal is to conduct interviews with the candidates who embody the characteristics we want to see in the new Superintendent, and who have the qualifications to lead this District.

I want to thank all of our staff, students, and community members who provided valuable feedback in a variety of ways.  Leadership Associates reported that over 1,000 online surveys were submitted, in addition to the feedback from those who attended one of the 29 in-person or virtual input sessions. We are most grateful to you for your time and ideas that were graciously shared with the consultants.

That feedback is being compiled into a candidate profile which will be shared with the Board.  It is critically important to our Board that we honor the values of the Gilroy community in hiring the next Superintendent.

The deadline for applications is March 22, and the Board is scheduled to meet with Leadership Associates in closed session on April 13 to review the applications and identify candidates to be interviewed.

Finalists will be selected in a closed session meeting in late April, and then the Board will complete the validation process of the leading candidates and narrow down the finalist(s) by early May.  The Board is scheduled to announce the new Superintendent and approve their employment contract at the May 18 Board Meeting.  Updates in the search process will be shared with you as that time nears.

We are confident that this process will yield quality candidates to be considered, but  please remember that this timeline is subject to change.  If it does, we will communicate that updated timeline with you.

Information is available on the GUSD website.

I want to thank you for your confidence in your board as we work to find the best next leader of our school district.

Best regards,
Linda Piceno
Board President
Gilroy Unified School District