Pleasanton Names New Superintendent After Ghysels Plans Early Retirement

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees selected Deputy Superintendent Ed Diolazo to serve as the district's next superintendent through June 30, 2030. Diolazo will assume the role on Jan. 1, 2027, following the retirement of current Superintendent Maurice Ghysels.

Ghysels, an Amador Valley graduate who previously served over 10 years as a superintendent in Mountain View and Menlo Park, was appointed as the district's interim superintendent in July 2024 and its permanent superintendent in June 2025. His contract was supposed to end in June 2027, but the PUSD board accepted his letter announcing his intent to retire by Dec. 31, 2026, according to a report in Pleasanton Weekly.

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Diolazo joined the district in 2017 as its assistant superintendent of student support services, according to a district news release. In July 2022, he was named deputy superintendent of educational services, in which he oversees educational programs and services spanning from preschool through adult learning. In his nine years with the district, Diolazo has helped lead the district through remote learning during the pandemic, the development of Pleasanton Virtual Academy, fiscal stabilization efforts, the development of more inclusive programs for students with special needs, and more.

Diolazo brings more than 30 years of experience in public education. Prior to joining PUSD, he served for over a decade as director of special services at the San Lorenzo Unified School District. He also worked as a school psychologist, a special education consultant with the Alameda County Office of Education, and as an instructor in the educational psychology department at California State University, Hayward.

"Mr. Diolazo is uniquely prepared to lead PUSD at this moment," PUSD Board President Kelly Baehr said in a statement. "He brings deep knowledge of our students, staff, schools, community, and District priorities. His experience, judgment, and institutional knowledge will provide continuity and steady leadership."

"I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of Pleasanton Unified," Diolazo said. "For the past nine years, I have had the privilege of working alongside PUSD's students, staff, families and community, and I have seen firsthand what makes this District so special. There is tremendous strength already here, and I look forward to building on that foundation – listening, leading collaboratively and continuing to work together in service of every PUSD student. I am grateful to Maurice for his leadership, partnership and the strong foundation he has helped build."

"It has been one of the great privileges of my career to serve the students, staff, families and community of Pleasanton Unified," Ghysels said in a statement.

"There is something especially meaningful about concluding this chapter of my career in the community where my own journey in education began. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and deeply grateful for the trust this community has placed in me. With PUSD on stronger footing, a clearer path forward and Ed being the right person to step into the role, I believe this is the time for me to return to retirement. I am grateful that we have the next three months to support a thoughtful and orderly transition. Having worked closely with Ed, I can think of no one better suited to lead this District into its next chapter. I have complete confidence in his leadership and in the future of PUSD under his guidance."

SEE ALSO:

• Maurice Ghysels Appointed Permanent Pleasanton Superintendent