The San Diego Unified School Board revealed the names of three finalists competing to be the district's next superintendent. The announcement came late Wednesday.
Each of the top candidates has a connection to San Diego. The most familiar name is William Kowba.
Kowba is currently San Diego Unified's interim superintendent. He's also the district's former chief financial officer.
Debbra Lindo is another finalist. Lindo worked at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego before her time as a public school administrator in Oakland. She now heads a non-profit group called College Track, which works to get kids into college.
And finally, Dale Vigil was a school administrator in San Diego Unified about a decade ago.
Vigil recently stepped down as superintendent for the Hayward Unified School District in Northern California.
San Diego Unified School Board president Richard Barrera says these three finalists were picked because they matched what the community wanted in a superintendent.
He says they are not reform-driven school leaders.
“We do believe that each of these three candidates comes with a collaborative leadership style,” Barrera said. “But they are very different people and they've got very different experiences. I think the community will enjoy getting to know all three candidates.”
The San Diego community will get a chance to hear from the finalists in an unprecedented town hall meeting at district headquarters later today.
Barrera says the trustees will be watching closely but they may not be the most important audience.
“I think it's more that the community will get a sense of who these candidates are. We expect loads of information coming to us.”
Community members can view the candidates’ biographies on the district's web site. The forum will also be webcast and televised.
