Ukiah Unified Assistant Superintendent Frankie Alvarado was selected to be Douglas County School Superintendent late Tuesday night.
Douglas County School Board Trustees offered the superintendency to Ukiah Unified Assistant Superintendent Frankie Alvarado after a 4-3 vote on Tuesday night.
Doug Englekirk made the motion to appoint Alvarado despite popular ratings and comments, which was approved with Trustees Yvonne Wagstaff, Carey Kangas, and Linda Gilkerson opposed.
The meeting ran until midnight.
The board will present a contract for the superintendent at the next board meeting on July 9.
During the Tuessday meeting, Alvarado and Patrick Peters were interviewed by the board.
One of the questions asked by trustee Kangas was “what do you see as being the most significant challenge facing the Douglas County School District and do you have a plan to address it?’’
“Most important thing is staffing shortage,” said Alvarado. “We need to have highly qualified teachers and highly qualified staff to serve students. And put kids at the center of our decision making.”
Alvarado said with the number of teachers and staff leaving, he suggested conducting an exit survey to uncover the reason they no longer want to be in Douglas County.
“We need to figure out what the root causes are and putting in systems and structures to address systemic issues that may be present, but are not visible to the eye,” he said.
Alvarado also addressed student absences and understanding why students are not in class, whether it’s an issue of bullying, a lack of engagement from either the student or teacher, or another underlying issue.
“If students are not in class, how are they going to learn,” he said. “If we can get to the root cause and solve it, then we can get that kid integrated back into the school, engage them and help them find their passion and interest areas and encourage them to move towards short-term and long-term goals.”
Trustee Wagstaff asked about the candidates’ qualifications and why they should be chosen as Superintendent in Douglas County, especially given the current climate within the district.
Alvarado said he has been working toward the same goals since he was in high school.
“This is not an afterthought for me,” he said. “This is something I have been very strategic about and planned around. All of it has been purposeful so that I can gain the skills and experience that I need to be successful in this position.”
Alvarado has spent the last year in Ukiah where he was hired May 8, 2023, from the Mammoth Unified School District, where he was human resources director.
Alvarado grew up in San Bernardino County, Calif., where he attended Serrano High School. He attended the University of La Verne for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and teaching credentials. He later earned his clear administrative credential from National University, according to the Ukiah District’s announcement.
“I’ve had an instant impact and changed the dynamic of the schools I’ve worked for,” he said. “I also made great gains with academic achievements, reducing behavioral situations.”
Alvarado said he believes in participatory management and is a servant leader.
“I’m here to support staff, and I’m here to give guidance and direction,” he said. “In the role of superintendent, I am here to work at the direction of the board and I need to be a good communicator and I plan to be a good communicator and share the directions that we are headed.”
Alvarado has been married to his wife Nicollette for 19 years and they have three children Addison, Axel Thor, and Alena.
The Alvarados enjoy outdoor activities, including hiking, off-road vehicles, and traveling, according to the Ukiah district.
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Douglas County School Board Trustees offered the superintendency to Ukiah Unified Assistant Superintendent Frankie Alvarado after a 4-3 vote on Tuesday night.
Doug Englekirk made the motion to appoint Alvarado despite popular ratings and comments, which was approved with Trustees Yvonne Wagstaff, Carey Kangas, and Linda Gilkerson opposed.
The meeting ran until midnight.
The board will present a legal contract for the superintendent at the next board meeting on July 9.
Alvarado has spent the last year in Ukiah where he was hired May 8, 2023, from the Mammoth Unified School District, where he was human resources director.
Alvarado grew up in San Bernardino County, Calif., where he attended Serrano High School. He attended the University of La Verne for his bachelor's and master's degrees and teaching credentials. He later earned his clear administrative credential from National University, according to the Ukiah District’s announcement.
Alvarado has been married to his wife Nicollette for 19 years and they have three children Addison, Axel Thor, and Alena.
The Alvarados like outdoor activities, including hiking, off-road vehicles, and traveling, according to the Ukiah district.
