By a vote of 7-0, the Pasadena Unified Board of Education has unanimously appointed Deputy Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D., as Interim Superintendent at its June 29 meeting. Dr. Blanco has been with PUSD for a total of nine years and has served as Deputy Superintendent since 2022.
She succeeds Dr. Brian McDonald, who is leaving PUSD on June 30, 2023, after 12 years in PUSD, nine of them as Superintendent.
“We are fortunate to have Dr. Blanco’s leadership as Interim Superintendent during this transition,” said Board President Michelle Richardson Bailey. “She has been a key leader in developing our district’s Strategic Plan, budget, and initiatives. With her breadth of knowledge and experience, her proven track record in working collaboratively with district partners, and her focus on equity, inclusive practices, and continuous improvement, Dr. Blanco will l be pivotal in bringing PUSD to the next level.”
An accomplished executive and servant leader with more than 30 years of experience in public education, Dr. Blanco is passionate about creating dynamic learning environments that are engaging and inclusive of all learners.
“I am honored to serve as the Interim Superintendent and I look forward to actualizing the District’s visionary Strategic Plan,” Dr. Blanco said. “The Strategic Plan is unique in that it intentionally includes the voices and dreams of the PUSD community. I am excited to walk with our students, colleagues, and educational partners as we put the district’s new vision and mission into action.”
Dr. Blanco led the District’s visioning for the future through the design and development of the District’s Educational Master Plan that creates pathways for the realization of the District’s Facilities Master Plan and new Strategic Plan. Dr. Blanco also leads the design and implementation of the District’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). Her work includes the expansion of magnet schools and the establishment of community schools and educational equity access initiatives.
Dr. Blanco has served as Deputy Superintendent, the District’s second-highest role, since 2022; as Chief Academic Officer from 2018-2021; and Chief of Specialized Instructional Services from 2017-2018. She was previously the District’s Executive Director of SELPA, Special Education and Early Childhood from 2009-2012. Dr. Blanco was Chief of Special Education Services and the Division of Instruction, Innovation, and Social Justice in the San Francisco Unified School District from 2012- 2017. She began her career in education as a classroom teacher in the Rowland Unified School District.
Dr. Blanco holds a Doctor of Education in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, two Master of Arts degrees in Educational Administration and Special Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from California State University, Los Angeles.