FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Unified Board of Trustees on Friday approved Misty Her as interim superintendent, the first woman to ever lead the district. Her has served as the district’s deputy superintendent since 2021.
The board has been searching for a new leader for nearly four months, after current Superintendent Bob Nelson announced in January he would leave the district for a tenured position at Fresno State starting in the summer.
“We need an interim superintendent who will continue to implement the important initiatives that the district is pursuing and who will ensure that we are fully prepared for the first day of school in the fall,” said Board President Susan Wittrup. “Her’s close familiarity with the district's needs ensures we maintain momentum without rushing our search.”
Fresno Unified is the third largest school district in the state, serving more than 70,000 students, a majority of them coming from diverse backgrounds. Nearly 70% of the student body is Latino.
Her is the highest-ranking Hmong public school official in the nation, according to the school district. The Fresno region is also home to the second-largest population of Hmong in the country.
Her attended Friday’s board meeting where the announcement was made. The trustees gave her a standing ovation shortly after the vote, and held a press conference soon after. In her remarks, Her said she is “deeply honored” to take on the role.
“My experience and dedication has prepared me to lead the district from a holistic view, with an unapologetic focus on student growth and achievement,” she said. “We are not going to waver from this.”
Current superintendent Bob Nelson says he supported the decision “100%.”
“There's nobody I'm more confident in in leading our Fresno Unified family through this [transitional] period,” he said in a brief remark.
The search for a superintendent turned tense after the board voted last month to look outside of the district for candidates – changing course from its initial process of only interviewing internal candidates.
Some members of the board took to social media to release statements against the process, sparking public backlash. An independent firm, Leadership Associates, withdrew its participation a day after the board’s change of course, citing the public outcry and political infighting.
It was speculated Her was a contender for the position all along. The boardroom was lightly attended Friday as the decision was announced.
