Superintendent Ruben Aurelio Leads VCUSD as the New Superintendent

VALLEJO, Calif. - Vallejo City Unified School District welcomes Rubén Aurelio as the new superintendent as of July 1, 2024. The board unanimously selected Superintendent Aurelio as the finalist following former Superintendent William Spalding's retirement on June 30.

Aurelio, who most recently served as the superintendent of the St. Helena Unified School District, has a proven track record of leading academic initiatives and fostering community partnerships. His tenure was marked by praise for his administration experience, work ethic, focus on student and family engagement, and ability to establish community partnerships.

Before that, Aurelio was the associate superintendent and chief academic officer of the Berkeley and West Contra Costa Unified School Districts. He held roles in the San Leandro Unified School District for 12 years, including director of assessment and data and assistant director of technology, assessment, research, and evaluation. His passion for education began in positions as principal and teacher earlier in his career. 

Aurelio's career is hallmarked by his success in building relationships and bridging the gap between diverse groups in the community. His background contributed to his passion for the community, having grown up near Los Angeles in a monolingual Spanish-speaking immigrant family. He earned a bachelor's in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, a master's degree from California State University, East Bay, and is certified as a chief business official. Aurelio is a proud first-generation college graduate and is pleased that his entire education has been in public schools.

The Vallejo City Unified School Board anticipates Superintendent Aurelio's leadership and continuation of VCUSD's Strategic Plan and Portrait of a Graduate. "His background in nearby urban school districts and his proven commitment to equity will make him an asset not just to VCUSD but to the community of Vallejo," VCUSD Board President Dr. Latyna Young stated.

Aurelio is eager to bring his commitment to equitable outcomes and student success to Vallejo City Unified School District. He looks forward to working with the community to further this commitment.