Soon after coming aboard last summer to lead Santa Barbara County’s biggest K-12 school district, Superintendent Cary Matsuoka (pictured) launched his listening tour, a 90-day endeavor to take the temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure across 13 elementary schools, four junior highs, and five high schools. He still has not spent enough time in the individual schools and with the faculties, but let’s be realistic, Matsuoka said: With 800 teachers and 15,185 students — 9,029 of whom are Latino, 3,569 categorized as English learners, 1,933 in special education, and 24 in foster homes — “you’re never done listening.”
Matsuoka’s temperament, described as thoughtful and approachable, differs starkly with that of his predecessor, Dr. David Cash, who once described himself as “a bull in a china shop kind of guy.” Before he retired, Cash developed a lot of necessary programs — including the Strategic Plan, Facilities Master Plan and funding, and strides in cultural sensitivity. Part of Matsuoka’s job has been to maintain momentum and layer it with his own experienced vision. That Matsuoka was a teacher for 17 years factored greatly into the board’s decision to hire him.
“He’s a great next superintendent,” said Kate Parker, the president of the five-member Board of Education. She agrees that Matsuoka is a refreshing change but points out that, most importantly, he has measured leadership, which came in handy last fall when the district asked voters (successfully) for $193 million in bond monies. It is also a helpful temperament when working with four brand-new boardmembers with no previous experience as elected public officials.