DANVILLE — The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has looked to the north — Canada — in selecting its new superintendent.
John Malloy, the current director of education at the Toronto District School Board, was chosen as the finalist for the job after an extensive search process that included input from the community, educators and the search firm. The Toronto District School Board is the largest in Canada and serves more than 247,000 students in 583 schools throughout Toronto, according to the news release. San Ramon Valley Unified has an enrollment of 32,000.
Malloy was set to retire Nov. 1 from the Toronto job, according to the Toronto Sun, when he accepted the San Ramon position.
“I am privileged and excited to be the new superintendent of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District starting August 1,” Malloy said in a video statement. “I was drawn to the district because it was clear to me from afar that you are committed to students — their achievement, their well-being, holding high standards, supporting their learning. And that really resonated with me.”
Malloy, who has more than 30 years of experience in public and private education, will replace Superintendent Rick Schmitt, who announced his retirement April 3. Schmitt’s term runs through the end of June.
The school board will confirm a job offer to Malloy at an upcoming board meeting, with details on the contract length and salary at that time.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Malloy to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District,” School Board President Greg Marvel said in a statement. “He quickly emerged as an outstanding candidate whose vast experience and strong leadership abilities will greatly benefit the students, families and employees of the SRVUSD, as we navigate a new path forward in education during these uncertain times.”
Malloy, who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, attended school and worked in the United States before going to Toronto as a teacher in the Toronto Catholic board, according to the Toronto Sun. He headed the Hamilton-Wentworth board and also worked as an assistant deputy minister in Ontario’s Ministry of Education before taking the helm in Toronto four years ago.
At its May 26 meeting, the San Ramon Valley school board — over the objections of nearly 300 people — approved 2.56 percent salary increase for its top management. The decision included boosting Superintendent Schmitt’s salary to $357,832, retroactively to July 1, 2019.
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has 36 schools with more than 32,000 students in Alamo, Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo and San Ramon.
