PUSD Superintendent Edwin Diaz Announces Resignation

Edwin Diaz announced Wednesday that he will be leaving his post as superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District effective Aug. 2, 2011. The announcement came as a surprise to many attending the PUSD candidates’ forum at Cleveland Elementary School Wednesday night where Diaz made the announcement.

The move comes just one day after the to make up to $11 million in cuts to district spending, including an as yet undecided number of layoffs of administrative and custodial staff, as well as the possibility of some teachers.

Explaining his decision in a written statement, Diaz said that the superintendent position “requires an unmatched commitment of time, energy and passion” and that he has decided “to pursue a more balanced and healthy lifestyle” following personal deliberation and discussion with his family.

In a gesture to the many people he has worked with since taking the position in 2007, Diaz thanked PUSD employees, community partners, parents and students, urging them to continue their involvement in improving the school district.

“I strongly encourage all of you to continue to work together to implement the strategic plan, which represents the community’s highest dreams and aspirations for public education in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre," Diaz said in the statement.  “I have the utmost confidence in your ability to prepare our
students for a future of limitless opportunities, and to build PUSD into one
of the nation's strongest and most effective school systems.”

Under Diaz’s leadership of the 19,000 student, K-12 district, API scores have risen by 52 points, a rate that surpasses the rate of improvement for the state as a whole, according to an official PUSD statement.

Though no successor has yet been named, Diaz said that he was committed to “supporting a smooth leadership transition.”