Employment Opportunities

Apply to: www.macnjake.com

 

The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Board of Trustees is seeking an effective
leader and fully qualified Superintendent. The Board wishes to have the successful candidate
assume the responsibilities of the position on January 1, 2026.

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development, in collaboration with
the California School Boards Association, has been engaged as the consultant in a search for
outstanding candidates. They will assist the Board of Trustees in identifying and screening the
candidates.

Enrollment: 15,480

Location: City of Industry, 20 miles east of Los Angeles

 

The Qualifications
The candidate must have the background, skills, and abilities essential for excellence in
educational leadership. The board recognizes that selecting a superintendent is one of the most
important decisions it will make. The board desires candidates that have a proven ability and
demonstrated accomplishments for the following position criteria:

 

Educational Leader:
The ideal superintendent is a visionary and student-centered educational leader who places
academic excellence and equity at the core of the district’s mission. Bold and forward-thinking,
this leader is committed to reimagining public education to ensure every student—especially
English learners, students with disabilities, and historically underserved populations—has access
to high-quality instruction, support, and opportunities for success. As the district’s lead learner,
this individual brings deep expertise in curriculum design, instruction, and assessment. They are
well-versed in research based reading and writing, and skilled in implementing culturally
responsive, inclusive, and emotionally supportive teaching practices. Their leadership is
grounded in data-driven decision-making and a commitment to closing achievement and
opportunity gaps. This superintendent aligns district wide goals with school-level strategies and
classroom practices, ensuring coherence and shared accountability. They advocate strongly for
college and career readiness, including CTE and advanced placement pathways, and invest in

targeted interventions to support struggling students. An experienced instructional leader, they
have a proven track record of supervising academic programs and developing effective, aligned
professional learning that supports teacher and staff growth. They balance high expectations with
meaningful support, using systems thinking to build leadership capacity, foster collaboration, and
sustain continuous improvement. Above all, this educational leader models inclusivity,
professionalism, and ethical leadership, ensuring that every student and educator in the district is
empowered to thrive in a culture of high achievement, innovation, and continuous learning.

 

Effective Fiscal Leader:
The ideal superintendent is a fiscally responsible and visionary leader with a strong record of
operational excellence. They possess the expertise to develop and implement long-range
educational and financial plans that directly support student achievement and district
improvement. This includes successful experience with multi-million-dollar budgets, bond
management, workforce housing, and strategic use of LCFF and Title funding. A collaborative
and decisive leader, they engage effectively with all district partners—unions, non-union staff,
and the broader community—to move educational initiatives forward. They demonstrate a deep
understanding of fiscal fundamentals, including healthy fiscal reserves, addressing deficit
spending, and long-term financial planning, and have a proven ability to secure grants and launch
cost-effective programs that enhance student services. This leader has left past districts in
stronger financial and academic standing, with measurable successes such as improved
graduation rates, academic gains, and increased stakeholder trust. As a skilled problem solver in
areas like facilities, collective bargaining, and day-to-day operations, they bring high integrity,
flexibility, and a steady focus on big-picture goals. They build strong internal teams by
empowering others, developing leadership capacity, and fostering a culture of continuous
improvement through professional development and shared responsibility. Ultimately, their
operational competence includes experience with fiscal oversight, bond management, and
collective bargaining—while making courageous, student-focused decisions with transparency
and integrity.

 

Equity Leader:
The ideal superintendent is an equity-centered leader with the moral courage and systems
thinking necessary to make bold, data-informed decisions through a clear equity lens. Culturally
competent, multilingual, and experienced in serving diverse communities, this leader actively
addresses opportunity and achievement gaps, particularly for historically marginalized and
underserved student groups. With a strong track record of dismantling systemic
barriers—including those related to language, ability, income, and ZIP code—they ensure that
resources, programs, and support are equitably distributed to meet students’ individual needs.
This includes advancing access to high-quality programming across all quads, including arts,
STEM, special education, and dual-language instruction. This leader values cultural diversity and
demonstrates the ability to engage and communicate effectively with families from all
backgrounds. Committed to educational justice, they lead with compassion, integrity, and
urgency to create inclusive systems where every student—especially unduplicated and
vulnerable youth—can thrive.

 

Community-Centered Leader:
The ideal superintendent is a community-centered leader who genuinely values the rich diversity
and unique perspectives of the Hacienda La Puente school community. Deeply committed to
building strong, authentic relationships, this leader is consistently visible and
engaged—attending school and community events, visiting classrooms, participating in district
and site meetings, town halls, and actively collaborating with local organizations, faith groups,
and civic leaders. Approachable and accessible, this leader creates open lines of communication
through regular town halls, school visits, and community listening sessions. They ensure that
families, students, and staff—regardless of background or position—feel heard, respected, and
empowered to participate in shaping the district’s direction. Demonstrating strong cultural
proficiency, the superintendent skillfully brings together the various voices across the
district—including parents, educators, classified staff, students, and community advocates—to
foster unity, mutual respect, and shared purpose. They navigate cultural differences with
empathy, address conflicts with care, and work diligently to build a climate of trust, transparency,
and honesty. This leader models a deep ethical commitment to community involvement by
creating systems that encourage meaningful participation from all educational
partners—especially those historically underrepresented in decision-making. Whether through
multilingual family engagement initiatives, student advisory groups, or neighborhood
partnerships, the superintendent actively works to ensure that the community plays a central role
in the educational process and student success.

 

Ethical Communicator and Collaborator:
The ideal superintendent is an inclusive, ethical, and courageous communicator who actively
listens, values diverse perspectives, and builds strong, trusting relationships throughout the
district. With exceptional verbal, written, and digital communication skills, this leader engages
transparently with the Board, staff, students, families, bargaining units, and the broader
community. Culturally competent and emotionally intelligent, they foster collaboration, navigate
differences with respect, and lead difficult conversations—especially around educational
equity—with clarity and purpose. They prioritize inclusive decision-making, even in challenging
situations such as budget reductions or school closures, ensuring all voices are heard. As a
strategic thinker and team builder, this superintendent articulates a clear vision and works
collaboratively to implement and monitor district goals. They model civic engagement through
active participation in community life and create space for families to be meaningfully involved
in schools. Above all, this leader is a role model of integrity, accountability, empathy, and
fairness—holding themselves and others to high standards while remaining deeply committed to
student well-being and success.

 

Preferences:
● Successful experience as a teacher and leader at the classroom, site, and district, and
executive cabinet levels
● Doctorate degree
● Multilingual and Multicultural; having experience working in diverse communities

Salary: $300,000-$350,000

Search Timeline:

Closing date for applications: September 18, 2025
Board of Trustees selects finalists to interview: October 14, 2025
Finalist Interviews with the Board: November 14-15, 2025
Selection of new Superintendent: December 11, 2025
Start date: January 1, 2026

Apply online at: www.macnjake.com

Contact information:
McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C.
11725 Arbor Street, Suite 220
Omaha, NE 68144

888-375-4814

Email: [email protected]

School Website: https://www.hlpschools.org

Consultants:
Nicole Anderson [email protected]
Ben Johnson [email protected]
Bill Spalding [email protected]

 

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. WCPS does not
discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability and, when needed,
will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees. Anyone requesting a reasonable
accommodation in the application or recruitment process please contact McPherson & Jacobson at the
address/phone/email above.

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