APRIL 2026 Page 9 SCHOOL BOARD NEWS BARSTOW UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
From Classroom to District Leadership: Mr. Jorge Gutiérrez to Lead BUSD as Interim Superintendent
The Barstow Unified School District Board of Trustees is preparing for the future by outlining a proposed process to identify the district’s next Superintendent. The plan includes working with Education Support Services (ESS), a firm experienced in conducting leadership searches for school districts across California. The proposed search would follow a structured four-phase process: Engagement, Activation, Selection, and Transition. Early in the process, the Board would gather input from staff, parents, students, and community members through focus groups, community forums, and an online survey. This feedback would help create a Leadership Profile describing the qualities and experience the community hopes to see in the district’s next leader. Once the profile is developed, the position would be widely advertised while advisers recruit and screen qualified candidates. The Board would review applications, conduct interviews, and identify a preferred candidate before moving forward with contract negotiations. If approved, the Board would aim to select the new Superintendent in spring 2027, with a potential start date of July 1, 2027. The final phase of the process would focus on supporting a smooth transition and setting the stage for the district’s next chapter of leadership. Proposed Superintendent Search Process
The Barstow Unified School District is proud to announce that Mr. Jorge Gutierrez will serve as our Interim Superintendent beginning July 1, 2026. With more than two decades of dedicated service to the Barstow community and a long history of leadership within our district, Mr. Gutierrez brings both experience and a deep understanding of what makes BUSD special. Mr. Gutierrez is not new to our schools or our families. His career in education began in 1994, and for more than 22 of those years he has served the students, staff, and community of Barstow Unified School District. During that time, he has worked in many different roles, giving him a unique perspective on how every part of a school district works together to support student success.
Mr. Jorge Gutierrez will serve as Interim Superintendent of the Barstow Unified School District beginning July 1, 2026. With more than 22 years of service to BUSD, he brings a deep commitment to student success and strong relationships with students, staff, and families across the district.
He began his journey at Crestline Elementary School, where he was part of a team that helped the school successfully exit Program Improvement status by focusing on strong instruction in literacy and mathematics. From there, he continued serving students as a Pre-Algebra teacher and department chair at Barstow Junior High School, where student achievement in mathematics increased significantly during his time in the classroom. Mr. Gutierrez later served the entire district as an Instructional Coach and English Learner Coordinator, supporting teachers, strengthening curriculum alignment, and helping ensure that every student — including English Learners — received the support they needed to succeed. He also worked closely with families through ELAC and DELAC to make sure parent voices remained an important part of district decision-making. As Principal of Barstow Junior High School, Mr. Gutierrez led efforts that improved student outcomes across all state priorities and helped the school move out of Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) status. Most recently, he has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, where he has supported staff, worked closely with school leaders, and helped guide the district through the many staffing and organizational challenges that followed the pandemic. As Interim Superintendent, Mr. Gutierrez will focus on providing steady leadership during this transition while continuing the district’s important work in student academic success, district improvement efforts, and major facility projects. His long-standing relationships with students, families, employees, and community partners will help ensure that the district continues moving forward without interruption. Mr. Gutierrez has shared that he is passionate about the success of every BUSD student and is committed to upholding the Board’s vision for our schools and community. We are excited to welcome him into this leadership role and look forward to the continued progress of Barstow Unified School District under his guidance.
Public Comment T he board meeting is a business meeting of the board held in a public forum. This is not a town hall meeting with the board. There is time during the meeting to receive public comment from citizens to present problems or questions they feel the board should discuss. Individuals are encouraged to address the full board, not individual Board members. The law prohibits the Board from taking action on items not on the agenda. Request to speak cards should be filled out in advance and presented to the Superintendent's Executive Assistant. Instructions for submitting remote public comment can be found on our website www.busdk12.com under the tab “Board of Trustees.”
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