Meet Our Superintendent

As a former Kern County student, teacher, and administrator, I am fortunate to be part of a professional and collaborative community that approaches its work with optimism and a tremendous sense of possibility. We are a team of dedicated educators, committed support staff, administrators, involved families, and supportive community members, working in partnership to strengthen educational excellence for our students.

The Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) success is directly connected to active and strong parental involvement, a supportive and generous community and a dedicated and talented staff. KCSOS values a system of continuous improvement that permeates every aspect of its work in order to become a center of educational excellence. We are committed to providing support and a learning environment that responds to local district needs to ensure individual student academic success. Our work is guided by research and the belief that every student is capable of attaining high levels of educational achievement in preparation for meeting the rigorous demands of life and the workforce.

We truly believe in being “advocates of children.” We believe in the unlimited potential of our students by respecting and developing their unique learning styles and interests. We set challenging and demanding expectations for performance and support all students to achieve high standards. We foster a culture of civility where students and adults are treated with fairness, are respected for their contributions, and are celebrated for their differences and successes. We believe in using data to guide decisions and to improve student learning, differentiate instruction, and promote social, emotional and physical growth.

Our focus on serving students and families requires teamwork, collaboration and dedication. We believe in the value of communication and shared accountability. We believe that commitment to and implementation of continuous learning leads to improved student performance. We believe in the power of personal connections and a working relationship between students, parents, staff and the community.

Together, our commitment to supporting local districts will foster the needed resources for all of our students from cradle to career.

Sincerely yours,

John G. Mendiburu, Ed.D.
Kern County Superintendent of Schools