A year after Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent
Alan Nishino took office, he and others review his performance
Morgan Hill – Student achievement, improved staff development opportunities, increased employee benefits and reinstatement of district positions are what Superintendent Alan Nishino might call the “gold stars” on a figurative report card of his debut year in the position.
He also sees progress in Morgan Hill Unified School District construction projects and in working with the Coyote Valley Specific Task Force as it draws up a plan to develop the area, which lies within district boundaries.
Looking back over his first year leading the district, Nishino said he would not like to try to set a letter grade on a report card of his accomplishments; rather, he said, he could talk about where the district has come in the last 13 months.
Leaders of district employee groups also were reluctant to grade Nishino’s performance, but said that while they could point to some positive steps toward change, there are areas of concern for them.
Nishino, 58, began his third superintendent position when he joined the district July 1, 2005. Prior to that, he served as superintendent for Alameda School District for five years. His first position as superintendent was with the Castaic School District in Southern California. He has also worked as a teacher and a coach during his career.
Nishino is quick to credit Assistant Superintendents Stan Rose and Michael Johnson, who came to the district with him from Alameda, with many of what he sees as positive changes in the district during the past year. He also credits district employees with helping to make changes he and board members thought were necessary.
“When the board hired me, they told me there were several items that needed to be addressed,” he said. “And this didn’t just come from them. These are the same things that the community wanted. I heard that during the interview process with the community group, and I heard it after I came on board during my many meetings with a wide variety of community members and leaders.”
Student achievement is a priority, Nishino said, and he and his staff have focused on curriculum, ensuring that there is equity across the district; high expectations for students, which includes making algebra in eighth grade and biology in the ninth grade a district standard to align with the state standard; staff development; and providing teachers with easily accessible data to help them tailor students’ educations to their needs.
Donna Foster, president of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers, said she believes these aspects are important as well, and she would like for teachers to be a part of the decision-making process in these areas.
Nishino also said he is proud of the work that has been done to complete some construction projects, including Sobrato High, taking steps to complete more renovation work at Live Oak High, planned renovation at Britton Middle School and refurbishing work at several elementary schools.It is his past roles as coach and teacher that have helped him to take a leadership role and yet understand the needs of those he leads, he said.
His focus, he says, is always on the students of the district.
“When I make a decision, I always ask, ‘So how does this impact the kids?’ That’s what we’re here for,” he said. “Some superintendents try to keep the adults happy. But even if you try, you can never do that. That’s not my job. What’s good for kids is my job.”
Nishino said it is his role to have a vision for the district, a vision that will lead students to success.
Foster has said teachers can offer district leaders a professional insight into what kinds of curriculum decisions, textbook choices and staff development programs will be most beneficial to district students.
Service Employees International Union Chair Pam Torrisi said she would like to see Nishino evaluated based on school board goals.
During the board’s July 25 meeting, trustees approved goals for the coming school year, but when Trustee Shelle Thomas asked if the goals would be used to evaluate Nishino’s performance at the end of the year, Board President Mike Hickey said there would be other methods of evaluation. Torrisi said that his statement concerned her, as well as Trustee Peter Mandel’s statement that Nishino has, through experience and negotiation, likely saved the district millions of dollars.
“If he has saved the district millions, that is good, but that shouldn’t be the only criteria (for his evaluation),” she said. “When we as district employees are evaluated, we are evaluated in many aspects of our job.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 Ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
