Peoria Unified outlines leadership transitions and interim appointments ahead of 2025‑26 school year
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Summary
Superintendent Summers and Dr. Teresa Hernandez presented recommended leadership changes May 29, including moving Hernandez into the deputy superintendent role (effective June 1), interim special education director appointments and other interim placements to maintain stability going into 2025‑26.
Superintendent Dr. Summers and Dr. Teresa Hernandez outlined a slate of leadership transitions and interim appointments May 29 intended to provide continuity heading into the 2025–26 school year.
The board was asked to approve a recommendation for Dr. Hernandez to begin as deputy superintendent as early as June 1, 2025. Summers said the organizational chart approved earlier this year is the framework and that the recommended moves are intended to preserve leadership continuity while allowing time for longer‑term evaluations and formal hiring processes.
For Exceptional Student Services (special education), the district recommended naming Landa Tartaglia as interim director and filling two assistant director roles (one pending June 11 HR action). The district described significant turnover in special education leadership during 2024–25 and said the interim structure is designed to stabilize services while a deeper evaluation proceeds. “This structure provides stability while also allowing time for deeper evaluation and long term planning,” Hernandez said.
Summers said some interim assignments are intended to be short‑term and will be evaluated mid‑year for performance and organizational fit. He also noted that the proposed staffing plan is being managed to be budget‑conscious and that projected changes could result in a net decrease to overall budget allocation, pending final compensation and classification adjustments.
On business services, Summers reported newly hired leaders Marcy Rodriguez and Talia Visentainer will start July 1 with onboarding days in June, and the district is continuing the search for a director of accounting. The board asked for additional budget detail on the net fiscal impact of reclassifications and interim placements; Summers said staff would follow up with a fiscal analysis when ready.
No formal employment votes were recorded at the meeting; the presentation served as an informational update and a request to proceed with recommended personnel actions and HR filings in upcoming board reports.
