The Poway Unified School District selected its next superintendent on Thursday, five months after firing Superintendent Marian Kim Phelps following an investigation into bullying claims.
The district's Board of Education approved the appointment of Dr. Ben Churchill, who has been the superintendent of the Carlsbad Unified School District since 2016, according to Carlsbad Unified's website. Before that, he was the chief academic officer for a school district in Illinois. More of Churchill's previous roles include assistant superintendent, high school principal and high school teacher.
“In a field of exceptional candidates, Dr. Churchill’s extensive experience, approachable demeanor, and innovative vision for moving PUSD forward stood out. The Board wishes to thank our stakeholders for their valuable input into this process and invite everyone to join us in enthusiastically welcoming Dr. Churchill to Poway Unified,” PUSD Board President Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff said in a news release.
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Poway Unified terminated Phelps on April 30 after the trustees' no-confidence vote. The Board's internal investigation determined Phelps interfered with a school's probe into allegations her daughter Jessica was bullied.
Jessica was a pitcher on Del Norte High's softball team. The former superintendent was accused of harassing fellow players and coaches for failing to clap loud enough for her daughter at the team banquet.
A nationwide search for a new superintendent began at the beginning of June. The district invited parents to participate in a survey online and on the district website to determine what characteristics they want in a new leader.
Trustees interviewed several unidentified candidates in September. According to Poway Unified, 46 people applied for the superintendent position.
On Feb. 8, Greg Mizel, the district's associate superintendent of student support services, was appointed interim superintendent. He is expected to continue in that role through the leadership transition.
Churchill is slated to begin his new role on Dec. 2. Poway Unified confirmed he will be making $300,000 in pay, which is before benefits.
According to Transparent California, the organization that tracks public pay and pension benefits, the recently fired superintendent was making nearly $500,000 in pay and benefits last year.
