When Manuel Valenzuela considered putting his name in the hat to become the leader of the Sunnyside Unified School District, he was met with much confusion.
Colleagues, friends and mentors questioned why the current Sahuarita School District superintendent would consider walking away from a community that is growing and moving in a positive direction for one plagued with trust issues, and one that is challenged on the academic front as well.
For Valenzuela, the answer is simple. He sees himself in the district โ a child of Mexican immigrants who started kindergarten as an English-language learner who, thanks to opportunities provided through public education, has managed to spend the last three decades serving Tucson-area students.
โIโm here not because the work is easy but because the work is hard and just, and although this district has had challenges, I also know the traditions of this district and I believe that it is full of tremendous promise,โ Valenzuela said Thursday night to a crowd of about 100 community members.
โIโm interested in the difference, the fulfillment of the promise we can make in this community if we maximize our shared potential,โ he said.
Valenzuela is one of two finalists vying for the job of superintendent in Tucsonโs second largest school district, serving 17,600 students.
Valenzuela has served the Sahuarita School District for 10 years. Before that, he worked in Flowing Wells for 14 years, making his way up from a teacher to assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. He became superintendent of Sahuarita five years ago.
Now, the leader of the B-rated Sahuarita School District would like to bring his talents to the C-rated Sunnyside School District, which serves nearly three times as many children.
Despite the difference in size, Valenzuela said he would get out into the community to meet parents, students, staff and other stakeholders. Those connections and a commitment to rebuilding trust that was broken by the previous administration will be key to making Sunnyside the model for public education that it can be, he said.
While some would find the population Sunnyside serves to be challenging โ mostly Hispanic and with many living in poverty โ Valenzuela is a firm believer that all children can succeed and excuses will not be tolerated.
Rather, Valenzuela said his game plan includes a focus on high quality teaching and a rigorous curriculum, as well as meeting individual student needs and working with community partners.
Valenzuela is up against Steve Holmes, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Tucson Unified School District, the second finalist for the position.
After Valenzuelaโs meet and greet, the governing board convened in a closed-door session Thursday night to discuss who should be the districtโs next leader.
