Hilda Maldonado to retire as Santa Barbara Unified Superintendent

Hilda Maldonado has announced she will retire as the Superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District at the end of the school year in July 2027. Maldonado has led the district since 2020, a tenure marked by both academic progress and significant internal friction.

During her leadership, the district saw rising test scores, the initiation of employee housing projects, and increased investment in student emotional wellbeing. However, her term was also characterized by controversy, including the resignation of over 30 top administrators shortly after her arrival, strained labor negotiations, and staff surveys expressing disapproval of her leadership. Some employees described a hostile workplace, leading the district to hire a leadership coach for Maldonado in response to feedback.

Maldonado stated that serving the students, families, and staff has been the “honor of my life.” School board President Bill Banning praised her commitment to equity and systems-building.