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Sacramento County Office of Education

superintendentsearch

Sacramento County Superintendent Search Process

David W. Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools, has announced that he plans to retire on June 30, 2027. The Sacramento County Board of Education subsequently initiated the search process for the next Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools.

The Board selected Leadership Associates, an executive search firm, to lead this important effort. Updates and announcements regarding the search will be shared on this page.

Search Timeline

Note: Italicized text indicates Board Participation

December 2025 (Preliminary Phase)

December 8: County Office receives proposals
December 15: Proposal Presentations / Board Selects Firm (Board Participation)

February 2026 (Community Engagement)

February 3: Initial Meeting with the Board; Board determines characteristics, skills & qualities desired in new superintendent; publicly announces timeline and procedures (Open and Closed Session; approx 3 hrs total; Board Participation)
February 11–March 2: Online survey dates
February 18, 19, and 21 (In Person)/February 24 (Zoom): Consultants confer with staff and community designated by the Board to receive input

February–March 2026 (Advertisement and Recruitment)

February–March: Consultants identify potential candidates; Development and posting of recruitment materials and Position Description
March 9 & 16: Advertising and active recruitment; Ad appears in EdCal (two consecutive publications)
March 31, 5:00 p.m.: Deadline for applications

March-May 2026 (Interviews and Selection)

March–April: Consultants complete comprehensive reference and background checks on applicants
Week of May 5 (Special Meeting): Board confers with consultants, reviews all applications and selects candidates to be interviewed (Closed Session; approx 3 hours; Board participation)
May 22–23 (Special Meeting): Board interviews candidates; selects finalist(s) (Closed Session; all-day meeting; Board participation)

June 2026 (Contract Approval)

TBD: Board completes the validation process of the leading candidate and makes final determination (Board Participation)
June 2 or 16: Board approves superintendent contract at a regularly scheduled board meeting (Board Participation)

Start Date

TBD (As Mutually Agreed): New superintendent begins

Public Input

Stakeholders can share their feedback in four ways: by completing online surveys, attending community forums or virtual sessions, and participating in small group discussions.

Online Surveys (Open now and will close March 2, 2026)

To ensure a collaborative and inclusive process, the Board is requesting public input through an anonymous online survey. The purpose of the survey is to gather feedback from stakeholders on the qualities and characteristics they believe are most important for the next superintendent to possess. The survey also seeks your perspectives on the County Office of Education’s strengths, challenges, and our community. This feedback will help inform the development of the leadership profile and guide the selection process.

Community Forums

February 18, 2026 (SCOE Conference Center)
5:30–7:40 p.m.
3661 Whitehead Street, Suite 100
Mather, CA 95655
February 19, 2026 (Leo A. Palmiter Junior/Senior High School)
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Room D1 (Capacity 60)
2040 Ethan Way
Sacramento, CA 95825

February 21, 2026 (SCOE Board Room)
9:00–11:00 a.m.
10474 Mather Blvd
Mather, CA 95655
February 21, 2026 (Leo A. Palmiter Junior/Senior High School)
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Room D1 (Capacity 60)
2040 Ethan Way
Sacramento, CA 95825

Virtual Sessions (February 24, 2026)

Join a 30-minute virtual Zoom session on February 24, 2026. Two sessions are available for most time slots. Please follow the Zoom link to join either Group 1 or Group 2 at the time that's most convenient.