Denise Alvarado, the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s executive director of Elementary Education, has resigned her position.
Alvarado left on Oct. 30 to become the senior executive director of Specialty Programs at the Westminster School District in Orange County.
She joined Santa Barbara Unified in July 2022 as the executive director of Curriculum and Instruction. Before Santa Barbara Unified, Alvarado worked in Orange County school districts for 19 years.
Alvarado’s departure comes amid changing district leadership ever since Maldonado announced her retirement on Oct. 30.
Arturo Valentin, a parent at Santa Barbara Community Academy who worked with Alvarado on a multilingual learner committee, said she was “very active and doing a really good job.”
Valentin said he was unaware why Alvarado was leaving, but suspected it was due to increased pressure from district superintendent Hilda Maldonado to raise test scores.
During Maldonado’s six-year tenure, the district saw an exodus of long-time leadership in cabinet and other administrative positions as well as the creation of new positions, such as the roles of Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel.
As a result, Maldonado assembled an entirely new cabinet — save for John Becchio, assistant superintendent of human resources, who was the only remaining member of the cabinet Maldonado inherited.
Several veteran employees of the school district who’ve departed within the last six years have gone to work at the Santa Barbara County Education Office, including Elise Simmons, Shawn Carey and Frann Wageneck. At least 10 district administrators have departed since Maldonado became superintendent.
“We’re hoping that new leadership in SB Unified brings about consistent support for our educators and students,” said York Shingle, president of the Santa Barbara Teachers Association. “Hopefully we’ll find community centered leaders who listen to our needs and help us make this district the best in the state.”
