CHUSD's new superintendent asks community, students and staff to 'give change a chance'

COALINGA, Calif. (KFSN) -- The first day of school is quickly approaching.

This year, there will be a new leader in the Coalinga Huron Unified School District.

Dr. David Moore, the new superintendent, is also getting acquainted.

He and his staff members got right to work and learned about each other's skill strengths at a recent retreat.

"It was very, very much a team activity and we got to know each other," Moore said.

Moore is married with four children and four grandchildren.

He is entering his 31st year in education.

He taught kindergarten and middle school before shifting into an administrative role at an alternative education community day school.

From there, he rose through various administrative positions and most recently served as assistant superintendent in the Santa Paula Unified School District.

He says he applied for the superintendent position because he felt he had more to offer.

"I wanted to do more and thought, 'Okay, in order to do more, I need to be in this seat,'" Moore said.

Moore says his background has heavily focused on early literacy rates.

According to the California School Dashboard, for the 23-24 school year, CHUSD was more than 85 points below standard for English Language Arts and about 118 points below standard in mathematics.

But Moore says that's part of what drew him to the district.

"I was looking for a district like this because I believe very strongly that all students can learn, and when you look at the achievement levels here in this area, I knew that it -- it's rooted in literacy, and it's rooted in early mathematical skills," Moore said.

Moore takes over the role after the previous superintendent, Lori Villanueva, parted ways with the district following nearly a year on administrative leave.

"I understand the role that I have, and I understand there needs to be a time of healing," Moore said. "So I would say, give change a chance."

Moore is currently finalizing his 100-day plan for the district.

At the end of the 100 days, he'll be tasked with presenting a strategic plan to the board, one he hopes captures a variety of voices from the district.

"So, the strategic plan will not be a plan that I sit in my office and write. It'll be very much connected to the input that I received and the challenges that they feel need to be addressed," Moore said.

Superintendent Moore is planning to hold listening sessions in both Coalinga and Huron with community and staff members.

You can expect to hear more about that in the coming months through Parents Square and social media.

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