New superintendent for Berkeley
Berkeley schools didn’t have to look far for their next superintendent, poaching a top administrator from San Francisco Unified, officials announced Thursday.
Enikia Ford Morthel is the lone finalist for the top job in the East Bay district and is expected to replace outgoing Superintendent Brent Stephens on July 1, following final school board approval of her contract in Berkeley in mid-May.
Ford Morthel currently serves as the deputy superintendent of instruction in San Francisco.
“I am honored and humbled to serve the Berkeley community as the next Superintendent,” Ford Morthel said in a statement. “BUSD is uniquely positioned to be a proof point that all children — regardless of race, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status or zip code — can learn and thrive and that a district that provides a diverse portfolio of high-quality public schools, can create conditions for excellence, equity and authentic engagement for each and every student.”
Ford Morthel’s departure leaves San Francisco with a growing number of administrative vacancies, which already includes Superintendent Vince Matthews, Deputy Superintendent of Policy and Operations Myong Leigh, Chief of Policy and Operations Orla O’Keeffe and Chief of Early Education Meenoo Yashar.
In addition, by late April, 10 San Francisco Unified principals had already submitted their resignations or retirement, a number that far exceeded departures in previous years. Last year, just two principals retired.
The shakeup in San Francisco follows two years of controversy and upheaval, including a $125 million budget problem leading to a state-appointed overseer, as well as a successful school board recall of three board members, who were replaced by mayoral appointees.
Berkeley leaders lauded the selection of Ford Morthel, who has worked as an educator for more than 20 years.
“Throughout her career, Ford Morthel has worked to provide educators with the training and resources needed to deliver highly effective Tier 1 classroom instruction, which serves as the fundamental layer for academic success for every student,” said BUSD Board President Ka’Dijah Brown. “Ms. Ford Morthel has an exemplary history of improving academic and opportunity outcomes for historically underserved populations and has done phenomenal work in SFUSD to support special education, African American, Latinx and English language learner students.”