Board unanimously approves Dr. Vincent Matthews as SFUSD superintendent

The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education voted to approve a contract with Dr. Vincent Matthews to serve as the district’s superintendent on April 4, 2017.

Board staff read the recommendation that the board approve the attached contract with Dr. Matthews, and a motion and second were made to adopt it. In a roll call vote the board recorded votes in favor from Commissioners Cook, Haney, Mendoza McDonald, Marazzi, Norton, Sanchez and President Walton; the president announced the decision was unanimous.

Public speakers, including Kevin Bogus of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth and parent Cynthia Segura, urged the board to support the new superintendent and emphasized priorities such as academic achievement for vulnerable student groups and visits to schools in the southeast of the city.

After the vote, Dr. Matthews thanked the board and the community, introduced his family and recalled his San Francisco roots, including teaching in Hunters Point and time at George Washington Carver Elementary School. He said the most important interaction in the district is "the interaction between the teacher and the student," and emphasized the district’s obligation to ensure "all children can learn, all children want to learn." He framed his appointment as a homecoming and a commitment to work with the district to eliminate the opportunity gap.

The board’s action follows a multiweek selection process; board materials presented the contract and recommended action at the April 4 meeting. The district will return to regular board business following the transition.

The contract approval was recorded by roll call during the April 4 meeting.