Portland Public Schools are on the verge of a leadership shake-up as Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero prepares to book it down to Los Angeles. Guerrero, who's called it quits after over half a decade at the helm of Oregon's largest K-12 school district, is not slowing down, as he's slated to take charge of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools starting April 2, the district announced in a press release.
The nonprofit Partnership Guerrero is set to lead looks to aid in the trenches of LA education, particularly zeroing in on schools that have historically gotten the short end of the stick. He's all set to quickly get involved in improving the lot of around 13,550 students across 20 schools in low-income areas like Boyle Heights, South LA, and Watts. "I’m thrilled to join the Partnership and to build on the collective effort focused on achieving educational equity for underserved students of color," Guerrero said, aiming to radically boost outcomes for Black and Latino students, according to a statement obtained by OPB.
This leap to the City of Angels comes right on the heels of Portland's longest-ever teachers strike, which Guerrero weathered before announcing he'd be stepping aside. Having led the PPS since 2017, his last day on the job is pegged for February 16, as noted in the Portland Tribune.
Yet before Guerrero can jump to start his new gig, he's looking to momentarily press pause, indulging in some personal time to hydrate his spirit and reconnect with kin. Speaking about the six-week sabbatical, he has carved out for himself before assuming the mantle in LA, as per the OPB report. Guerrero revealed he planned to “focus on [his] health, reengage with family, take a long road trip, and return to producing and performing rock music.”
