New Superintendent Of Schools Appointed By SMC Board Of Education

REDWOOD CITY, CA — The San Mateo County Board of Education has named Deputy Superintendent Marco Chávez to serve as the new San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools.

The appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Nancy Magee, which became effective on Thursday.

Although the position of County Superintendent is typically an elected one, the County Board of Education is authorized to appoint an individual to fill a vacancy. The Board selected Chávez at its meeting on Wednesday. He will serve the remainder of Magee’s term, which is scheduled to conclude in January 2027.

The County Superintendent serves as the liaison between the California Department of Education and the 23 local school districts, supporting them, collaborating with the Board on goals, and overseeing the San Mateo County Office of Education. SMCOE reviews and approves district budgets, ensures compliance with state and federal laws, and reviews Local Control Accountability Plans. The Superintendent also manages the county’s Court and Community Schools, special education for ages birth through 22, and advocates for public education statewide.

Hugo Torres, President of the San Mateo County Board of Education, released a statement following the appointment.

“Marco is an experienced and thoughtful leader who knows the County Office and the issues facing our local school districts,” Torres said. “Working with Marco has been productive, and he has been instrumental in keeping the work moving forward. He is capable of managing the County Office through a year of transition.”

Chávez returned to the San Mateo County Office of Education in 2021 as the Deputy Superintendent for the Educational Services Division, having previously held various roles within the office from 2013 to 2018.

“I am honored to serve in this role to ensure we continue to prioritize the students and families of San Mateo County. I thank the board for this opportunity, and I recognize Superintendent Magee for her many years of leadership and service to our community,” Chávez said.

From 2018 to 2021, he served as a principal in the Campbell Union Elementary School District, where he led a reform of the Dual Language Immersion program. During his earlier tenure at SMCOE, he also served a term as a Ravenswood City School District trustee from 2012 to 2016.

Prior to joining the County Office, Chávez’s experience included roles as an instructional aide, teacher, school principal, and Director of Categorical/Multilingual Services in the Ravenswood City School District. He also served as an English Instructor at the University of Colima in Mexico. Chávez holds a Master’s degree from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame de Namur University.