Superintendent's Office

The superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District is the district's chief executive officer, appointed by the five-member school board. This role has four main responsibilities:

Supporting the school board: The superintendent works with the school board in their governance, policy, and financial leadership roles.
Leading the management team: They directly lead the district's management team of over 60 members.
Providing employee leadership: The superintendent offers oversight, leadership, visibility, and a strong presence for all employees.
Representing the district: They serve as the main representative and point of contact for the broader Santa Barbara community.

As a teaching and learning organization, the SB Unified believes the superintendent must also be an instructional leader. This means they ensure that student learning and achievement are the district's top priority. The superintendent, with the support of the school board and district employees, leads the complex work of preparing students for their futures.

Santa Barbara Unified School District Superintendent Hilda Maldonado

Dr. Hilda Maldonado

S U P E R I N T E N D E N T

Dr. Hilda Maldonado took the helm of Santa Barbara Unified School District on July 1, 2020, becoming the second female - and first Latina - to serve as Superintendent in the history of the district, founded in 1866.

Dr. Maldonado took over Santa Barbara Unified during one of the most challenging periods in the history of the district as the COVID-19 pandemic forced district schools to transform teaching & learning almost overnight. Her commitment to the well-being of students, families, and staff has guided her leadership each step of the way.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Maldonado has been awarded the Stanton Fellowship Award by the Durfee Foundation. She completed a doctorate degree at Loyola Marymount University in Social Justice Leadership. Dr. Maldonado earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s Degree from CSLA. She has also studied at Harvard Business School after being selected to attend the Public Education Leadership Project and the Program for Leadership Development.