When Dr. Zandra Galván set her sights on the superintendent role for the Salinas Union High School District, she knew she had to stand out from the crowd. With years of experience as a district leader, Galván was determined to demonstrate her unique qualifications and vision for the district.
Galván’s strategy centered on three key elements: authenticity, preparation, and relationship-building.
“I went in there with a level of confidence that there was nobody else and that I was my sole competitor. I even smiled at the panels and said, ‘Look, no further. I’m your girl,'” Galván said. ” I did not let the thought of the other candidates enter my mind. I was going in there with one purpose: to blow their socks off and earn the right to be their next superintendent.”
Part of that confidence came from Galván’s extensive preparation. She watched SUHSD’s school board meetings online, studied the district’s data, and got to know the community by visiting the neighborhoods. This deep dive allowed her to anticipate the board’s questions and understand existing concerns.
“I watched a whole year’s worth of board meetings. I studied their film and made note of community concerns, community celebrations and the questions that school board members asked. I studied what they were asking about and why,” Galván explained. “During my interviews, I shared very specific responses rooted in what I knew about the community and the board from my research. I let the board know that I already knew they love data to ensure our programs meet the needs of our students, and they also have lots of questions about facilities.'” These areas strengthened our understanding of what they wanted their next superintendent to address right away.
Galván also crafted a detailed 100-day plan that she presented during the interview process. This plan demonstrated her deep understanding of the district’s needs and her vision for addressing them.
She even tapped into her network of superintendent colleagues to seek guidance. Galván collaborated with several national superintendent colleagues who counseled her on structuring a stand-out 100-day plan.
Beyond her preparation, Galván also focused on building relationships with key stakeholders. Before even starting the job, she reached out to community leaders, union representatives, some administrators she knew, and teachers who had worked for her in the past, ensuring she had a strong foundation of understanding.
“I’m going to connect with my new administrative team and start setting up the meetings to initiate my 100-day plan of learning and discovering. I’ll set up meetings with every board member first, then labor leaders, community leaders, team members, students and parents. I can’t wait to learn what they love and what they think we can do better,” Galván said.
Galván’s authentic, well-researched approach and commitment to relationship-building ultimately helped her stand out and secure the superintendent role. Her strategy provides a valuable blueprint for other aspiring district leaders.
“I went against myself. I honestly didn’t care who the other candidates were,” Galván said. “Once earned and awarded the spot, I would be ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”
Her efforts paid off. Galván started her new job Oct. 1.
