Dr. Deborah A. Flores Ph.D.

Dr. Deborah Flores has been the Superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District (GUSD) since July 2007. She is the longest serving superintendent in Santa Clara County. Prior to coming to GUSD, Dr. Flores was superintendent in the Lucia Mar Unified School District in San Luis Obispo County for three years. She also worked in the Santa Barbara School District for 15 years where she was Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. She has been a superintendent for 19 years and has worked in public schools for over 40 years. 

Dr. Flores began her career as a special education teacher in 1975 and middle school summer migrant education teacher. Since 1980, she has filled a number of administrative positions at the site level, district office and in special education. 

Dr. Flores has served on numerous committees during her career. Currently, she is a member of the South County CalSOAP Board of Directors (past president and vice president), the SELPA Executive Council (past president and vice president), Gilroy Chamber Business Education Committee (past chair) and has been a member of Gilroy Rotary since 2008.

Dr. Flores earned her Ph.D in Educational Administration from the University of California, Santa Barbara (1996) and her Masters in Education (1978) and Bachelors in Education (1975) from the University of Massachusetts.

Various awards have been bestowed on Dr. Flores throughout her career, including:

• Amherst-Pelham School District, MA Teacher of the Year (1979) 
• Riverside County Woman of Achievement (1989)
• ACSA Central Office Administrator of the Year (1999)
• ACSA Region 8 Superintendent of the Year (2016)
• ACSA Superintendent of the Year (2016)
• Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year (2021)

Dr. Flores is an avid runner and has run many races during 40+ years of running from the mile to the marathon.  She also enjoys cycling, backpacking and skiing with her son Julian who is a student at UC Santa Barbara.