Former Superintendent Loses County Job

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Dr. Adrian Palazuelos leaves SVUSD after just over a year.

Former SVUSD Superintendent Dr. Adrian Palazuelos’ highly criticized offer to join the Sonoma County Office of Education has been rescinded by Superintendent of Schools Amy Carter. The announcement of his hiring came just weeks after Palazuelos left SVUSD after 18 months via a mutual separation agreement. 

In his final weeks as Superintendent, Dr. Palazuelos was notably absent from School Board meetings and missing from official functions. After taking medical leave in October 2022, he soon after parted with the distract in an agreement that left him with a severance package of an estimated $115,000, plus benefits.

While his initial leave from SVUSD brought questions from members of the community, his hiring by the Sonoma County Office of Education as an Associate Superintendent faced vocal public backlash. Following an Op-Ed published in the Sonoma-Index Tribune and the Press Democrat, Carter rescinded the hiring offer.

In his absence, the Valley of the Moon Teacher’s Association  finished their contested salary negotiation under Elizabeth Kaufman, acting superintendent. Palazuelos is not the only Superintendent in SVUSD’s recent history to leave their role. Former Superintendent Soccoro Shiels was fired after just two after years.