After an extensive nationwide search, the MVLA Board of Trustees has announced that Dr. Nellie Meyer has been selected as the sole finalist for the position of superintendent.  The board voted unanimously for the appointment of Dr. Meyer at today’s regular meeting.

Meyer, who has served as the Superintendent of the Mount Diablo Unified School District for the past six years, was the board’s unanimous pick for MVLA’s next leader.

“Dr. Meyer understands that our community wants our schools to give each student, from the lowest performing to the highest, the academic, social, and emotional tools not merely to realize her or his potential for an intellectually and emotionally gratifying life of learning, but to extend that potential,” said board trustee Phil Faillace in a press release statement. “She has a long and rich background in education and an abiding belief that all decisions should be based on respect for the individuality of each student and doing our best for her or him.”

Meyer’s current district  is one of the largest in California.  It serves seven municipalities in Contra Costa County with more than 32,000 students, pre-kindergarten through 12^th grade on 56 campuses.  MDUSD includes five comprehensive high schools, one  continuation high school which was recently named a California Model Continuation High School, two adult education centers, nine middle schools, 28 elementary schools, and six alternative schools.

Previously, Meyer served as the Deputy Superintendent of Academics for the San Diego Unified School District. She also served SDUSD as its Chief High School Improvement Officer, Executive Director of Dropout Prevention, Interim Chief Elementary School Improvement Officer, and its Assistant Superintendent of High Schools.

Meyer began her career in education as a teacher’s aide in one of San Diego’s most diverse elementary schools at the time, Jackson Elementary, while also pursuing her bachelor’s in Psychology. She holds teaching credentials in Social Science, English, and Language Development, and has had a range of classroom experiences across grade levels, from 5^th grade Literacy, to 8^th grade Algebra, to 12^th grade Economics. While in SDUSD, Meyer also served in roles as a high school dean of students, vice principal, and principal.

Meyer obtained her master’s degree in Administration and her doctorate in Education from San Diego State University. Under the terms of her proposed contract, Meyer would begin a three-year term effective July 1, 2019, with an annual base salary of $302,500. The contract also includes a $25,000 housing allowance for housing within 20 miles of the district.