During their board meeting on Tuesday, June 16, the Palo Alto United School District Board officially approved Dr. Jason Glass as the district’s new superintendent.
Glass is set to begin his term on July 1, with his contract expiring in four years on June 30, 2030. The contract details a base salary of $396,136 for the first year. Glass will also receive $20,000 for moving expenses and a district-owned apartment costing $1,800 a month.
Board President Shounak Dharap stated in a post by the school district on LinkedIn that Glass is the right fit for the superintendent role.
“[Glass] brings deep experience, sound judgment, and the steadiness this district was looking for,” Dharap said.
Glass holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University, a Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership from Harvard University and three degrees from the University of Kentucky. He has previously served as the superintendent of Jeffco Public Schools and Eagle County Schools in Colorado and as Commissioner of Education for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Most recently, he served as the superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School District for the past year.
“I’ve invested much of my professional life working to develop human-centered education systems — ones that advance achievement and workforce preparation while also attending to the human needs of belonging, purpose and meaning,” Glass said. “Most people want schools that prepare students academically and help them secure a future, but they also care deeply that students feel seen, valued, and have experiences that matter to them.”
Glass’s goal as he enters the role is to rebuild trust between the education system and the community. This includes complete transparency, especially when difficult decisions within the board are being made, he said.
“Success looks like this: we have students who are hopeful about the future, an organization that has genuinely earned the trust of its employees and community, and a budget situation we’ve stabilized together,” Glass said. “I’m clear-eyed about the assignment.”
