SDUHSD Superintendent Rick Schmitt honored by county on last day

As Superintendent Rick Schmitt conducted his last piece of business, overseeing Thursday night’s San Dieguito Union High School District meeting, County Supervisor Dave Roberts proclaimed June 30 Rick Schmitt Day throughout the County of San Diego.

“I think when we look around the state of California and look at well-run high school districts, people think of San Dieguito and they think of you — quite frankly, that’s why you got stolen from us,” said Roberts, who is also a parent of two children in the district. “Everybody that I talk to around the state just praises you. We all admire you, we all respect you.”

Schmitt planned to leave the day after his last meeting in Encinitas to start immediately at his new post as superintendent at the San Ramon Valley Unified District on July 1.

Schmitt was a part of the district for 13 years, serving as principal at Torrey Pines High School for three years, six years as the associate superintendent of educational services and one year as deputy superintendent before becoming superintendent in 2013. He thanked the board for their faith in him and the opportunity to serve in all of those leadership roles.

Both of Schmitt’s children graduated from Torrey Pines High School and he said he wasn’t expecting to leave SDUHSD, but it was an opportunity to lead a growing school district and to return to the Bay Area where he and his wife started their family many years ago and where much of his extended family currently lives.

Schmitt took time to thank his executive team of associate superintendents, noting that none of the district’s many great accomplishment would happen without his “partners.”

He thanked his executive assistant Joann Schultz, noting that he benefited from her 30 years of knowledge of the district, as well as all of the trustees on the board.

He also noted he was very proud that three of the district’s leadership team will be going on to superintendent positions: Torrey Pines High School Principal David Jaffe to the Rancho Santa Fe School District; Canyon Crest Academy Principal Karl Mueller to the Coronado Unified School District; and Associate Superintendent Jason Viloria to the Laguna Beach Unified School District.

“I have fond memories all around as an employee and a parent,” Schmitt said.