The San Diego Unified Board of Education unanimously agreed Tuesday to extend district Superintendent Cindy Marten’s contract for two years.
The 5-0 vote to extend Marten’s contract through the 2021-22 school year followed her annual evaluation, which looks at the San Diego Unified School District’s progress as well as the superintendent’s.
The board highlighted an improvement in fourth- and eighth-grade testing scores, an increase in support services for students and gains in parent-school relationships as some of Marten’s accomplishments during her five years with the district.
Also highlighted as part of Marten’s achievements were the partnerships created with community groups, including with the National Conflict Resolution Center and the Anti-Defamation League.
Under Marten’s leadership, the district recently fast-tracked $15 million in school safety improvements following a deadly shooting at a high school in Florida.
Marten’s stint as superintendent has not been without controversy.
Parents have on multiple occasions protested against a sex-education program known as SHEP that some criticized for being too graphic and inappropriate.
The school district said the curriculum was research-based and in compliance with state law.
She has been criticized for protecting the district from negative publicity instead of listening to an investigator who was looking into a sexual assault incident involving two kindergarteners — allegations that she vehemently denied on the witness stand during court proceedings.
Marten says, though, that her ultimate goal is to provide students with the best environment for learning and ultimately, life success.
Marten has been an educator for 25 years. She began as an elementary school teacher before serving as a literacy specialist for the Poway Unified School District.
Before becoming superintendent, she served the San Diego Unified School District for 10 years as a teacher and ultimately as principal at Central Elementary School in City Heights.
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego
Source: NBC San Diego
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