It was a nationwide search, drawing candidates from across the nation, but the San Marino Unified School District’s “lone finalist” to be its next superintendent of schools was eventually found just 4.3 miles away.
Dr. Jeff Wilson, the Arcadia Unified School District’s assistant superintendent of educational services, was chosen on Monday evening from a pool of more than 40 applicants to succeed Dr. Alex Cherniss as the SMUSD’s fourteenth superintendent since 1918. Loren Kleinrock has been employed as interim superintendent since Cherniss resigned in August 2018 to take a similar post with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. If officially approved at the SMUSD’s May 14 board meeting, Wilson will take over on July 1.
“Based on community input received and our collective experience in understanding the needs of San Marino Unified, the Board looked for an administrator who not only is experienced in providing exceptional educational services but who also is personable, collaborative and a positive and visionary instructional leader,” said San Marino School Board President Lisa Link. “Dr. Wilson brings all of those qualities in addition to his vast experience in a similar school district with high achieving students and high educational aspirations. Pending approval, the Board is very excited to start a new chapter with Dr. Jeff Wilson.”
Wilson has worked as a San Gabriel Valley educator for over 25 years as both a teacher and administrator and has degrees from Azusa Pacific University, California State University, Fullerton and Biola University. He has been with the Arcadia Unified School District since 2008.
A longtime Arcadia Unified School District employee who has worked alongside Wilson said the candidate is “nice, hard-working and willing to help.”
