Santa Rosa City Schools trustees have tapped Oakland Unified administrator Monica Thomas as the district's next superintendent, ending a monthslong search with a hire they hope can steady the ship during a brutal budget crunch. Thomas is set to start July 1, with the board scheduled to formally appoint her after a June 10 vote. Interim superintendent Lisa August Hulme, who has led the district since April 2025, will step out of the interim role on June 30 and assume the chief business officer position.
Board Opts For Veteran System Leader
Trustees settled on Thomas after interviews and a lengthy search process, according to The Press Democrat. Board President Nick Caston wrote that "Dr. Thomas has dedicated over 25 years to education, serving first in the classroom and as a school principal before advancing to district leadership," a resume that checked the board's boxes for both instructional chops and big-picture management.
Hire Comes Amid Deep Budget Pain
The choice lands as the district is still wrestling with a steep shortfall and a series of program and staff cuts that trustees said were necessary to avoid state receivership. Earlier this year, the board approved roughly $14 million in reductions, according to KSRO. Sonoma County later assigned a fiscal advisor to help oversee the district's finances, a move described as an effort to head off a state takeover, according to KSRO. Those pressures made experience with tough financial decisions a top priority in the superintendent search.
Thomas Brought Oakland Redesign Experience
Thomas currently serves as deputy chief of continuous improvement for Oakland Unified and previously was the founding principal of Greenleaf TK-8, where her work included school redesign and districtwide improvement efforts, according to board records. Oakland Unified board documents detail her involvement in network-level initiatives tied to Greenleaf and broader district improvement work.
From Oakland's Turbulence To A Smaller System
Trustees said they were looking for someone familiar with complexity, and Oakland Unified has provided plenty of that. The district has faced fiscal scrutiny of its own, and Alameda County issued a "going concern" warning in April that highlighted the hard calls Oakland leaders have had to make, according to KQED. Those are the kinds of conditions Thomas has already navigated.
What Comes Next For Santa Rosa
Thomas is slated to assume the superintendent role on July 1, and trustees plan to finalize her contract at the June 10 meeting, according to The Press Democrat. Immediate priorities for district leadership include finishing work on the 2026-27 budget, managing staff transitions and overseeing the school consolidations that have already reshaped Santa Rosa City Schools.
