Both positions became vacant due to the movement of staff both within and outside the district over the past seven months.
Sherry Smith formerly held the position of Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, since 2014 when she first joined San Jacinto Unified. She was selected by the Board in January 2019 to replace Matthew Hixson, Assistant Superintendent, Personnel, who left the district to join the Hawkins County Board of Education in Rogersville, Tennessee as their Director of Schools (similar to the position of superintendent). Prior to SJUSD, Smith had worked for 23 years in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified and San Bernardino City Unified school districts.
SJUSD’s new Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, John Roach previously served in Rialto Unified School District since 2006 as a middle school principal, Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Special Programs and Educational Technology, and most recently as their Lead Academic Technology Agent. Earlier positions held include assistant principal in Fontana Unified and teacher in San Bernardino City Unified school districts.
“Throughout the recruitment process, I met many dedicated employees clearly focused on the work of supporting students and their families,” shared Roach. “I look forward to walking our schools and classrooms to meet everyone in person and learn more about the innovative programs that are creating the difference in San Jacinto,” he noted.
Luke Smith formerly held the position of Principal, San Jacinto High School, and was selected to serve as the district’s Executive Director, Business Services in September 2018, following the departure of Harold Sullins. Smith began his career at San Jacinto High School in 2014 as an assistant principal.
San Jacinto High School’s new Principal, Courtney Hall (effective April 1, 2019) has been filling the position on an interim basis since September 2018. She was most recently an Assistant Principal at the school since 2016 and began her career at the district in 2014 as SJHS’s Dean/International Baccalaureate Coordinator.