How Superintendent Mauricio Arellano Spent His First Week in SBCUSD

New Superintendent Mauricio Arellano spent his first week at the helm of the San Bernardino City Unified School District reacquainting himself with schools across two cities, where he visited numerous classrooms and spoke with students, teachers, and administrators after arriving at a rousing homecoming. 

Arellano also relished meeting families and reconnecting with longtime colleagues. In his first meeting with more than 250 District principals, administrators, and managers this week, Arellano vowed to spend the first 120 days of his tenure immersed in everything SBCUSD to get a feel for the District’s unique strengths and challenges, an effort he referred to as “relearning SBCUSD with humility and an open heart and mind.” 

In an inspiring speech to his management team, Arellano mentioned his belief in the Zulu tribe greeting ‘Sawubona,’ meaning I see you, I hear you. He urged principals and managers to lead with grace, empathy, and humility while using research-based strategies.

Superintendent Arellano brings with him a wealth of experience and a commitment to educational excellence that will serve SBCUSD well in the years to come. He has more than 30 years of experience in public education, serving in a variety of roles including teacher, principal, and district administrator. Most recently, he served as the superintendent of the Redlands Unified School District. Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong relationships with students, families, and staff, and creating a culture of collaboration and innovation, all of which are part of his plan in SBCUSD.

“We are confident that he has the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills necessary to take our District to the next level, and that’s exactly why the Board of Education hired Superintendent Arellano,” Board President Dr. Scott Wyatt said. “To have a superintendent who was educated in our schools is truly unique and one of Mauricio’s greatest assets.”