East San Jose school district hires superintendent for one month

An East San Jose school board has appointed an interim leader — to serve for one month.

The Alum Rock Union School District has hired George Sanchez as temporary superintendent to serve the struggling district during July. District leaders said Sanchez brings more than 30 years of experience in education from his time as a classroom teacher, high school principal and school board president in East San Jose.

This is the fourth interim superintendent hired by the district in three years. Following the abrupt firing of Superintendent Hilaria Bauer in March 2024, the board appointed Imee Almazan, followed by Emmanuel “Manny” Barbara, who stepped in as interim superintendents while the district sought a permanent replacement. In August 2025, the district fired then-Superintendent German Cerda, less than a year after he was hired, and Sandra Garcia became interim superintendent.

“Sandra Garcia’s contract ended at the end of June, so we started a new contract with George at the beginning of July to cover, hopefully until we hire our next superintendent,” Trustee Corina Herrera-Loera told San José Spotlight.

Trustee Minh Pham said Sanchez was appointed to provide interim administrative coverage in preparation of the arrival of a permanent superintendent.

“He understands how policy is made and how it translates to the school sites, as well as having a reputation as a regionally respected school administrator with integrity,” Pham told San José Spotlight.

In advertising for a new superintendent, district officials said they’re looking for someone with experience in improving student outcomes, financial and operational leadership, transparent communication, navigating complex governance dynamics and fostering collaborative, results-oriented relationships with the board, staff and district families.

Alum Rock Union School District has faced ongoing financial struggles. Two years ago, the board voted to close six schools in the 2025-26 school year as the cash-strapped district dealt with a $20 million budget deficit. The loss of one-time federal COVID dollars and a drop in enrollment — from more than 10,000 students in 2015-16 to approximately 7,270 students in 2024-25 — added to the decision.

Earlier this year, the district laid off managers, bus drivers, child nutrition assistants, wellness site specialists and liaisons to address an $8 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year. The deficit was projected to grow to $9.5 million in the 2027-28 academic year due to a loss of grant funding.

“At the end of the day, we just want to make sure that our children and families are being served and that there is somebody overseeing our district during this process,” Herrera-Loera said.

Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].