As summer reaches full swing, a wave of new leadership is reshaping education systems across the country. From top state offices to local school districts, a growing number of education leaders are stepping into new roles. 

According to the 2024–25 AASA Superintendent Salary & Benefits Study, more than 40% of superintendents are now in their first three years in the role. Even more striking: 12.6% are in their first year, marking the highest rate of first-year superintendents in over a decade. These numbers reflect a broader national trend—frequent leadership turnover, rising demands, and increasing pressure on school leaders to drive results while navigating change.

Below, we highlight some of the most notable recent transitions at both the state and district levels.

State Transitions

  • Florida: Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas was appointed Commissioner of Education by the Florida State Board of Education this month, replacing Manny Diaz, who is transitioning to serve as Interim President of the University of West Florida. Kamoutsas, a trusted advisor to Gov. Ron DeSantis, previously served as the governor’s deputy chief of staff and held senior positions at the Florida Department of Education, including general counsel and chief of staff. [The Tallahassee Democrat]
  • Massachusetts: Pedro Martinez will begin his tenure as Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education on July 1. Martinez most recently led Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as CEO. His background also includes superintendent roles in Nevada and San Antonio, as well as a prior stint as CFO for CPS, providing him with a strong foundation in both instruction and operations. [WBUR]
  • Nevada: Gov. Joe Lombardo named Dr. Steve Canavero as Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction for Nevada earlier this year. Canavero previously served as the Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2016 to 2019 under former Gov. Brian Sandoval. Prior to his appointment in 2016, Canavero served as the Deputy Superintendent for Student Achievement for two years. [Las Vegas Sun]
  • Utah: Dr. Molly Hart assumed the role of Utah’s Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 5, succeeding Sydney Dickson after her nine-year tenure. Hart previously served as executive director of Summit Academy and was a member of the Utah State Board of Education. [Deseret News]

District Leadership Transitions

  • California – Oakland Unified School District: Dr. Denise Saddler has been named interim superintendent of Oakland Unified School District following the departure of Kyla Johnson-Trammell in June 2025. Saddler has held a variety of roles in the district, including teacher, principal, area superintendent, and president of the Oakland Education Association. [KQED] 
  • California – Laguna Beach Unified School District: Dr. Jason Glass will become superintendent of Laguna Beach Unified on July 1, 2025. Glass previously served as Commissioner of Education in Kentucky, Chief State School Officer in Iowa, and superintendent in two Colorado districts, including Jeffco Public Schools.
  • Colorado – St. Vrain Valley Schools: Dr. Jackie Kapushion has been appointed superintendent of St. Vrain Valley Schools, effective July 1, 2025. She has 36 years of experience in public education, including 10 years with the district and eight as Deputy Superintendent.
  • Kentucky – Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS): Dr. Brian Yearwood has been named superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools. He previously served as superintendent of Columbia Public Schools in Missouri from 2021 to 2024. [Louisville Courier Journal]
  • Maryland – Prince George’s County Public Schools: Dr. Shawn Joseph has been appointed interim superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools. He has previously served as superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools and held leadership roles in Delaware and Tennessee. He is also co-director of the AASA/Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy.
  • Nevada – Clark County School District: Jhone Ebert became Superintendent of the Clark County School District (CCSD) in April 2025, after leading Nevada’s education department since 2019. Ebert began her career as a math teacher in the district, where she spent 25 years in roles including magnet school director, assistant superintendent, and chief innovation and productivity officer. After leaving CCSD, she served as senior deputy commissioner for P-20 education policy at the New York State Education Department before returning to Nevada.
  • North Carolina – Cumberland County Schools: Dr. Eric C. Bracy was appointed superintendent of Cumberland County Schools in May 2025. He currently serves as superintendent of Johnston County Schools, bringing over 25 years of experience in public education.
  • South Carolina – Darlington County School District: Matthew Ferguson will begin as superintendent of Darlington County School District on July 1, 2025. He most recently served as Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer at the South Carolina Department of Education and began his career as a high school English teacher in the county.
  • Washington – Seattle Public Schools: Fred Podesta, Chief Operations Officer of Seattle Public Schools, was appointed acting superintendent through September 3, 2025. He steps in while Superintendent Brent Jones is on medical leave. [The Seattle Times]