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In This Issue...
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Superintendent Diane Siri Announces Retirement after 12 years in Office
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Superintendent Diane Siri Announces Retirement after 12 years in Office
By Michael Thomas
On Jan. 23, Dr. Diane Siri announced that she would not be seeking a fifth term as Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools. Her current term ends in November, and already a number of candidates have emerged to vie for the office. Besides overseeing the County’s third largest school district, the County Superintendent serves the seven-member Santa Cruz County Board of Education, oversees a variety of cross-district programs and represents the County in State and federal issues. Siri has proven to be a popular Superintendent, despite a variety of challenging issues.
“My 37 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent has been a dream come true for a young girl from Pacoima,” she said. “I feel fortunate to have grown up in a time when opportunities were open and expanding for women.”
During Siri’s tenure, the County Office has been assigned new responsibilities "for instance, State legislators in the early ‘90s decided the County Superintendent should be responsible for keeping local school districts fiscally solvent. Siri has also inspired significant growth in a variety of countywide initiatives, including the County’s Math Academy for high school students, teacher recruitment and retention, advanced summer school programs and community television, among dozens of others.
Siri, 59, said that she had several reasons for retiring.
“It’s a good time for a transition,” Siri said. “I think there comes a point when you’ve accomplished a majority of your list.”
While Siri said she is not interested in another full-time job, she plans to continue with the County Office.
“I would love to continue supporting the County Office,” she said.
She added that many people don’t realize the County Office is the area’s third largest school district " serving students with special needs and those in alternative school programs. With the demands of a large district, Siri said she is pressed to keep up with her other duties and still find time for county-wide projects, like long range district planning and pursuing the possibility of a county-wide schools tax.
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