Superintendent
Meet the Superintendent
Dr. Susan Salcido has served as Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools since 2017, supporting 20 school districts and 10 charter schools, and overseeing 200 programs that serve 70,000 children and youth countywide, including services for the county’s most vulnerable students.
During her tenure, Dr. Salcido has advanced key priorities in public education, including school safety, youth mental wellness, educator recruitment and retention, and the expansion of early education and college & career pathways.
Educated in Santa Maria’s public schools, Dr. Salcido earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC Santa Barbara and a doctorate from USC in organizational change and leadership. She began as a high school English teacher and coach, later serving as assistant principal, principal, and deputy County Superintendent, before becoming County Superintendent of Schools in 2017.
She and longtime public high school teacher, Bard Salcido, Jr., have been married for 23 years, and together they have two children, Samantha and Nicholas.
Student Advisory Council
The Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Student Advisory Council is a unique opportunity for high school students throughout Santa Barbara County to share feedback, experiences, and perspectives on a variety of issues affecting schools and communities. Participating members convene for meetings led by the Superintendent covering a variety of topics throughout the school year, and also have the opportunity to present at County Board of Education meetings, accompany Dr. Salcido to school visits and other events, and learn more about the public education system. Council members serve a one-year term, coinciding with the school year.
Superintendent Salcido, SBCEO staff Elise Simmons, Anna Freedland, Isabel Guerrero, and Jonathan Reyes, along with special guest Santa Barbara County Supervisor-Elect Roy Lee, welcome the 2024-25 County Superintendent of Schools Student Advisory Council
Contact Information
Dr. Susan Salcido
County Superintendent of Schools
ssalcido@sbceo.org
(805) 964-4710, ext. 5286
Anna Freedland
Executive Assistant to the
County Superintendent of Schools
afreedland@sbceo.org
(805) 964-4710, ext. 5216
Arlene Sherchan
Administrative Assistant
asherchan@sbceo.org
(805) 964-4710, ext. 5285
SBCEO Communications
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