The San Marino School Board conducted in-person interviews in early June with five candidates for the superintendent position that was eventually filled by Linda de la Torre, who had been serving as the acting superintendent since Jeff Wilson’s resignation in March 2021.
The Board also received videos from fewer than 15 candidates who were vying to replace Wilson, according to Board Member Shelley Ryan.
Applicants for the position were invited to send two videos that were each three minutes in length to the Cosca Group, the consultancy firm that had been retained to conduct the search, according to a candidate. During its meeting on May 24, the Board voted to close the search without selecting a final candidate. The Board selected de la Torre at a regularly scheduled meeting on June 28.
De la Torre has been employed by the SMUSD since 1989, when she was hired to work in the accounting department. In 1998, she took over as coordinator of human resources and advanced to director of human resources and assistant superintendent of human resources. In 2019, she was named assistant superintendent of administrative services and served as second-in-command to Wilson.
She was named interim superintendent when Wilson resigned before the Board removed the temporary title in October 2021.
The Board extended until Aug. 31 de la Torre’s pre-existing contract, which expired on June 30 pending negotiations on a permanent contract. She will be paid $245,000 per year plus benefits until a new agreement is made.
The Board said in a recent statement it will engage in strategic planning with de la Torre later this summer to set goals and priorities for the years ahead.
