Gay Man to Head SF School District

A gay man is set to lead the San Francisco Unified School District on an interim basis as the city searches for a replacement for the outgoing superintendent.

Myong Leigh has worked for the district since 2000, most recently as deputy superintendent.

Superintendent Richard A. Carranza announced last week that he's accepted a preliminary offer from the Houston Independent School District Board of Education to lead that district. The San Francisco Board of Education unanimously agreed to appoint Leigh as interim superintendent upon Carranza's likely departure early next month.

Leigh, 45, said in a phone interview that he doesn't want the superintendent's job permanently.

"I've never seen myself as a superintendent," he said. "What I'm best at is implementing work, thinking strategically," and "working to implement change rather than to be the public face of the district."

The district, which has a general fund budget of $745 million, has worked for years to ensure LGBTQ students are protected from bullying and discrimination, through efforts such as inclusive curriculum and professional development.

Leigh said those efforts would continue.

"We're a leader across the country in terms of our support for LGBTQ students and also our efforts to teach all students about LGBTQ students and our history," he said. "I think it's a matter of continuing those efforts. This year we're expanding our LGBTQ history program from one high school to three high schools in terms of curriculum."

The district is also working to provide more gender-neutral bathrooms.

"We do have work to do, just like everybody, but I think we're further along than most places," Leigh said.

The news release from the school district announcing Carranza's likely departure said that high school graduation rates increased 7.7 percent since 2009-10, when Carranza was first hired as a deputy by the district. The rise has been most significant for subgroups who have historically low graduation rates.

One difficulty the district faces is drawing workers to San Francisco, Leigh said.

"Something we're confronting is the challenge of recruiting and retaining teachers and other employees. There's a teacher shortage nationally and in the state," he said, adding that San Francisco's high cost of living "is very challenging."

"We're working hard to keep and attract our employees, and it's becoming harder," he said.

Leigh, whose salary is about $242,000, lives in San Francisco with his husband, Mark Haugen, 48.

His work has involved working with staff on issues including financial planning and resource allocation, student assignment and desegregation, and collective bargaining.

Carranza praised Leigh in a statement from the school district.

"San Francisco Unified has the most talented team of professionals I have ever had the honor of working with, and Deputy Superintendent Leigh is among the best of the best," he said. "Together with the community, I am confident Leigh and other district leaders are moving our schools toward our bold vision."

Board of Education President Matt Haney stated Leigh "has been with SFUSD since 2000 and has successfully managed day-to-day operations and overseen key district wide initiatives. SFUSD has a strong foundation, a recently updated strategic plan, and tremendous leadership throughout our schools and central offices. Mr. Leigh will be working with a great team."

In a statement Thursday, July 28, Mayor Ed Lee said, "The San Francisco Unified School District has thrived under Richard's leadership during his seven-year tenure, and it is because of his dedication to collaboration and relationship building. ... I have full confidence that interim Superintendent Myong Leigh will continue to build upon this foundation and continue the creation of an educational pipeline that serves the needs of our city's children."

Mark Murphy, a gay man who's run for the school board, said in an email to the Bay Area Reporter, "Through my four years of work on the Public Education Enrichment Fund Community Advisory Committee, advocating how [more than] $75 million is spent annually, Myong has always delivered a strong and measured approach to expanding opportunities for our SFUSD students while making sure we solidify the great programs already in place."

Murphy added, "He is perfectly prepared for this job. I can think of no better person to fill this role at this critical time of transition."