SOLEDAD — Soledad Unified School District has appointed Deborah Gorgulho as its next superintendent, effective July 1, according to the district’s Board of Trustees.
“On behalf of the Soledad Unified School District Board of Trustees, it is our pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Deborah Gorgulho as the next Superintendent of Soledad Unified School District,” Board President Ivan Ibarra Mora and Superintendent Randy Bangs wrote in a joint letter to staff, families and the community.
Bangs announced his retirement in December.
Gorgulho brings more than 30 years of educational experience, with what the board described as “a strong record of student-centered leadership, educational equity, fiscal responsibility and community partnership.”
Throughout her career, she has worked in both district and county education leadership roles focused on improving student outcomes and expanding access to academic and career pathways.
She currently serves as assistant superintendent of the Educational Progress Division for the Santa Clara County Office of Education, where she leads countywide initiatives centered on equity, student achievement and community engagement. In that role, she oversees state and federal compliance monitoring for 31 school districts and supports Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) development.
Prior to that, she served for eight years as director of Educational Services–Secondary in Gilroy Unified School District, where she led efforts to improve student achievement, expand alternative education pathways and strengthen social-emotional learning programs.
Gorgulho also previously served as a high school principal in both Morgan Hill Unified School District and San Benito High School District, where she focused on increasing student achievement, expanding career technical education opportunities and promoting equity and inclusion.
According to the letter, she has been recognized for her work throughout her career, including honors such as ACSA Educational Services Administrator of the Year and Santa Clara County Bilingual Educator of the Year. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
“We are confident that Dr. Gorgulho’s experience, leadership and commitment to students will continue moving our district forward in positive and meaningful ways,” the board wrote. “We look forward to working closely with Dr. Gorgulho during the transition process over the coming weeks to help ensure a smooth and successful transition for our students, staff, and families.”
