Fontana Unified
School District
Superintendent Search
Superintendent Search Activities and Timeline
The Governing Board of the Fontana Unified School District has engaged the services of Education Support Services (ESS) advisors Dr. Gary Rutherford, Dr. Suzette Lovely, and Dr. Marco Villegas to conduct the search for the District’s next superintendent. Below is an overview of the process, timelines, and activities that will occur over the next several months:
Timeline
| Engagement Phase: | August 5 – September 2, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Board Workshop: Search Protocols August 5, 2026 | This workshop assists the Governing Board in becoming ‘search ready’. The workshop includes: review of search timelines and process; confidentiality commitments; content for online survey; compensation considerations and salary parameters; screening factors; and experience requirements. The Board identifies District needs, leadership priorities, education partners for input sessions, and any prospective candidates it would like ESS to contact. |
| Education Partner Outreach Online Survey (Aug. 10- Sept. 18) Community Engagement Completed by Aug. 24 | Online survey invitation is pushed out to all stakeholders and is posted on the website. Search advisers meet with Board-determined education partners to identify District strengths, needs, and ideal qualities of Fontana USD’s next Superintendent. Community forums will be scheduled so that employees or community members can offer in-person input. |
| Presentation of Leadership Profile September 2, 2026 (Regular Meeting: Open Session Presentation) | Advisers present a Leadership Profile Report to the Board summarizing input from Fontana USD’s education partners. Results of the online survey are disaggregated and displayed in the Leadership Profile. The Board affirms the content of the profile and adds any additional screening factors. Candidates are recruited, screened, and selected based on District needs and ideal leadership qualities identified by the Board and broader community. |
| Activation Phase*: *Overlaps with Engagement Phase |
August 10 – September 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Job Posting Opens: August 10, 2026 Closes: Sept. 18, 2026 | The Superintendent vacancy is posted in a variety of sources and platforms, including EDJOIN, EdCal, and other Board identified publications. |
| Recruitment Ongoing | ESS advisers utilize an array of local, state, and national networks to actively recruit, engage, and screen candidates who match the Leadership Profile characteristics. |
| Reference Checks Ongoing | ESS advisers contact candidate references and conduct “blind” appraisals of each applicant, including review of social media accounts and digital footprint. Candidates are evaluated and ranked against the Leadership Profile criteria. |
| Selection Phase | September 23 – November 4, 2026 |
|---|---|
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Review of Applications September 23-30, 2026 |
Board receives a candidate analysis prepared by the ESS consultants, using the Leadership Profile as rationale. The Board will receive/review confidential application materials of all applicants prior to closed session, in which the candidate slate for interviews is discussed and finalized. |
|
Determination of Candidate Slate (Closed Session) Special Mtg. Sept. 30, 2026 |
The Board meets with ESS advisers to identify the best qualified candidates to invite for interviews. ESS notifies candidates not selected to interview. The Board reviews/finalizes first-round interview questions. The Board agrees upon general employment contract parameters. |
| First-Level Interviews: Saturday, October 10, 2026 (Full-Day Special Closed Session Board Meeting) | First-level interviews are conducted by the Governing Board. At the conclusion of the daylong interviews, the search advisers guide the Board in narrowing the pool and determining which individuals to invite back for a second interview. Second-level interview questions are drafted. |
| Second-Level Interviews: Sunday, October 11, 2026 (Half-Day Special Closed Session Board Meeting) | Second-level interviews are conducted by the Governing Board, assisted by search advisers. The Board selects its preferred candidate. ESS notifies candidates who are not moving forward in the process. |
| Employment Contract Negotiations October 12-28, 2026 | Board identifies agency negotiators to draft an employment agreement for the Board’s consideration. Typically, the Board President and legal counsel are assigned to this role. The search advisers assist throughout the process. |
| Background Checks Completed by Oct. 20, 2026 | The search advisers engage with a third party to conduct a thorough review of the finalist, including criminal, civil, credit, education, employment, and social media history. |
| Validation Visit (Optional) By October 19, 2026 | A Board subcommittee may decide to visit the workplace of the preferred candidate (in-person or virtually). ESS will assist the Board and the finalist in scheduling this visitation. If a Board majority participates in the visit, it constitutes a meeting that must be properly noticed and agendized. |
| Announcement of Board’s Preferred Candidate TBD | Following a favorable background check, ESS advisers collaborate with the Board president and finalist to develop a press release and announcement schedule contingent upon the finalist’s pending selection and Board approval. |
| Approve Appointment of New Superintendent October 21, 2026 | The Governing Board takes formal action to appoint the new Superintendent (closed session) at a regularly scheduled board meeting, pending approval of the employment contract. |
| Approve Employment Contract of New Superintendent November 4, 2026 | The Governing Board takes formal action to approve the employment agreement (open session) at the regularly scheduled meeting, with a start date of December 1, 2026, or as mutually agreed. |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the search process work?
- When will the new Superintendent be hired?
- How can employees, parents and other education partners weigh-in?
- When will the collected input be shared with the public?
- Who will make the final selection of FUSD’s next Superintendent?
- Can we find out who is applying?
- How can staff and members of the public follow this process?
How does the search process work?
The Board of Trustees is working with Education Support Services (ESS) Group to conduct a comprehensive search for the District’s next Superintendent. The search advisers will gather input from Fontana USD’s education partners to assist the Board in screening applications, interviewing qualified candidates, and ultimately selecting the new Superintendent.
When will the new Superintendent be hired?
How can employees, parents and other education partners weigh-in?
During the Engagement Phase, the search team will solicit input from staff, administrators, parents, students, and community members around the desired qualifications and characteristics of the new Superintendent. Input will be gathered via focus group sessions, virtual interviews, community forums, and online survey. This partner involvement provides the Board a pathway to hire a superintendent reflective of community values and needs.
When will the collected input be shared with the public?
All input collected during the Engagement Phase of the search will be compiled, synthesized, and incorporated into a Leadership Profile Report which will be presented to the Board on September 2, 2026. The report will also be posted on the district website and available for public review. Candidates will be recruited, screened, and interviewed based on the qualities and characteristics highlighted in the report.
Who will make the final selection of FUSD’s next Superintendent?
Can we find out who is applying?
The Board has engaged in a confidential search to select its next leader. As such, all application materials, including the names of applicants and other personally-identifiable information is restricted from disclosure. Confidentiality is the item of highest priority to the most exceptional candidates who are highly successful and well-regarded in their current positions.
