Zandra Jo Galván

Superintendent, Salinas Union High School District (Calif.)

Dr. Zandra Jo Galván is a respected Superintendent, systems leader, and nationally recognized educational innovator with more than 30 years of distinguished service in California public education. A proud Central Coast native and first generation college graduate, she began at Hartnell College before earning her Bachelor of Arts and teaching credential from California State University, Fresno, master’s degrees from California State University, Monterey Bay and San José State University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California, where her research focused on leadership, equity, and systemic transformation.

Her career spans classroom teaching, instructional coaching, administration, district leadership, and nearly a decade as superintendent, including leadership of both the Greenfield Union School District and the Salinas Union High School District. She has led large scale strategic planning, fiscal stabilization, governance alignment, labor partnership strengthening, and instructional redesign centered on equity and excellence. Her work includes implementing learner centered frameworks, Portrait of a Graduate initiatives, student advisory councils, and measurable gains in student outcomes, graduation rates, career technical education pathways, biliteracy opportunities, and community partnerships.

Dr. Galván is widely recognized for expertise in board superintendent governance alignment and organizational leadership. She facilitates governance workshops, leadership institutes, and mentoring cohorts at state and national levels, and serves as a facilitator for the Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµACSA Superintendent Academy and advisor to AASA, CALSA, and ALAS academies. Her leadership emphasizes adaptive practice, community engagement, strategic communication, fiscal stewardship, and sustainable systems. She also collaborates with national networks such as Digital Promise, Future Ready Schools, and the League of Innovative Schools to advance innovation, AI integration, and digital equity, and frequently presents on governance, systems change, culturally responsive leadership, student voice, and superintendent wellness.

Her honors include National ALAS Superintendent of the Year (2023), Regional CALSA Superintendent of the Year (2022), District Administration Woman of Distinction (2025), and recognition among the Top 100 National Educational Influencers (2024).

At the core of her leadership is a commitment to empowering women and girls to lead with confidence and authenticity. She mentors aspiring female leaders, expands opportunities for women in education, and elevates women’s voices at local, state, and national levels to help break barriers and shape a more equitable future.

As a facilitator for the AASA-ACSA Superintendent Academy, Dr. Galván brings lived experience, scholarly grounding, governance expertise, and proven leadership to prepare, support, and inspire the next generation of transformational leaders, with a particular commitment to advancing women in the superintendency.

Zandra Jo Galvan