Two new principals in the Santa Barbara Unified School District were named last Thursday: Allison Quijano at Adams Elementary School and Ed Gomez at Santa Barbara High School. Gomez will replace Fred Razo, who came out of retirement to run the school after former principal Elise Simmons resigned in August 2023 .
Gomez served as the assistant principal of the school for two years, but has been an administrator in the district since 2019. Before that, he taught social science and physical education in secondary schools for 27 years, 20 of which were at Santa Paula High School.
He said that his vision is to build on the 150-year legacy of the school. During Gomez’s time as assistant principal, he has built relationships with staff and other stakeholders, saying the Dons family has been “very welcoming.” He commended Razo for his experience as a veteran administrator with a calm presence. Razo is staying on board until the end of June, and they are actively working on the transition, including coordinating meetings with staff groups and parents.