The Fresno Unified School District has appointed Mao Misty Her as the interim superintendent.
According to The Fresno Bee, the district board approved the decision unanimously during a special meeting on Friday. She will take over for outgoing superintendent Bob Nelson on May 8.
Her is the first woman to serve as superintendent since the district began in 1873, FOX 26 reports. She will also be the highest-ranking Hmong K-12 educational professional in the country, according to The Fresno Bee.
“I am ecstatic to be the school district making history as the first Hmong woman in the country to ever be named interim superintendent,” Keshia Thomas, a Fresno Unified School Board member, told ABC 30.
The Fresno Bee reports that Her has worked for the district for over 30 years. She began her career there as a bilingual instructional aide before eventually working as an elementary school teacher, vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent and instructional superintendent. In March 2021, she became deputy superintendent.
“You have never apologized about your relentless focus on student achievement and that’s what we need at this time,” Superintendent Bob Nelson said of Her, per ABC 30.
Her hopes to use her 30 years with the district to help students as interim superintendent.
“This experience and dedication have prepared me to lead the district from a holistic view with an unapologetic full focus on student growth and achievement,” Her said per the Fresno Bee. “We are not going to waver from this.”
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