The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education unanimously appointed Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Blanco as the next superintendent at a special meeting. Blanco, who has served as the district's interim superintendent since July 2023, emerged as the person of choice after a thorough search.
“Dr. Blanco's personal background, experience, and passion for social justice will lead him to lead Pasadena Unified's students, families, teachers, and staff in our district's commitment to preparing students for success in an ever-evolving world. is well-positioned to realize our mission,” said Kimberly Ken, President and CEO.
The board is scheduled to vote on the final contract on Thursday, May 23rd. Mr. Blanco has a strong academic background and a career spanning more than 34 years in a variety of educational roles, culminating in his latest role, where he plans to leverage his experience to advance. PUSD reaches new heights.
“Our shared vision at PUSD is to transform education and enable students to succeed, and we stand ready to work with you to make this happen,” Blanco said. “My commitment is to make sure we reach every student, support their success, and remove the barriers that keep this from becoming a reality for every child in PUSD. Together with our dedicated and talented teachers, staff, families, parents, partners, and Board of Directors, we are committed to continuing to foster a culture of “with” that supports and uplifts our students. ”
Blanco's career in education began as a teacher and progressed through assistant principal, principal, director, executive director, and assistant superintendent. Of note, Blanco is a proud alumnus of California State University, Los Angeles, with two master's degrees and one bachelor's degree, and received his Ph.D. from USC.
At the core of Blanco's educational philosophy is a passionate commitment to social justice and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Her personal educational experiences have deeply shaped her approach, which emphasizes inclusivity and support for students of all backgrounds.
“I didn't always feel like I belonged in high school, so I didn't always make the right choices,” she said. “I know that no matter what challenges our children face, they can overcome them and become whatever they want to be when they grow up.”
Since his tenure as interim superintendent, Blanco has spearheaded significant strategic initiatives. Under her leadership, PUSD developed and began implementing a comprehensive strategic plan that included a new mission and vision to improve student outcomes through community and stakeholder engagement.
The district also established a Pan-African American Academy and developed workforce housing to support staff. Additionally, the introduction of a five-year bond plan demonstrates a strong commitment to improving school facilities so that PUSD students can learn in an environment that meets modern educational demands.
“My main goal since starting the 100-day plan was to create a culture of ‘with’ and inclusion, where staff felt the superintendent leadership team was with them,” Blanco said. said. “We have weekly meetings on the school site, which is also popular on our site. They feel like the people in the central office are walking with them on their journey on the ground every day. ”
Moving forward, Blanco will continue to focus primarily on key educational pillars such as literacy, grade-level math proficiency, and preparing students for college and careers in a rapidly evolving world.
“Our vision, developed with the board and community, is to transform education so students can succeed,” Blanco said. “We are committed to ensuring that students who have not traditionally had the same success are provided with individualized learning plans and experiences to succeed, and that they have the same opportunities. We have a rigorous curriculum and focus on providing access and ensuring that all children have the same opportunities and experience of belonging and growing in school. So when they leave school, they remember the experience and come back to serve the community.”