(US MEDIA GROUP) – After almost 10 months without a permanent superintendent, the Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education made a unanimous decision on Thursday to appoint Lisa Allen to the position.
Allen, who has been serving as interim superintendent since her predecessor Jorge Aguilar’s resignation in June of 2023, has been with the district for 28 years. Allen, who is the first Black woman appointed as superintendent in the district, and just the second woman in the district’s history began her career as a resource teacher supporting Title I students.
In a statement, Allen expressed her dedication to the district’s mission, saying, “My job title may be changing, but my top priority remains the same – improving student outcomes. We accomplish that by working collectively to ensure our schools are safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces where every student is empowered to learn and thrive.”
Under Aguilar’s six-year tenure, the district experienced multiple teacher strikes. However, under Allen’s leadership, there has been a thawing in labor relations as most major contracts were signed at the beginning of the year.
In a press release, SCUSD board Vice President Jasjit Singh stated, “Superintendent Allen’s expertise in education and experiences in our District prove that she is the leader SCUSD needs and deserves. The Board is confident and united in our belief that she is clearly the right person to keep Sac City Unified moving forward.”
In addition to appointing Allen, the board also voted to appoint Mary Hardin Young as deputy superintendent. Young has been serving as interim in this role since July.