New Dept. Superintendent: 2/14/24
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Promotes Dr. Issaic Gates to Deputy Superintendent
The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Issaic Gates to Deputy Superintendent.
In his former role as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Gates secured the district’s first multi-year contract agreement with its labor partners, thus ensuring fiscal stability and favorable long-term budgetary outcomes.
“I attribute so much of our recent success to the leadership of Dr. Gates,” shared Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss. “He has developed and strengthened important relationships with our students, parents, staff, and community leaders. He makes everyone he talks to feel heard and important, and his work ethic and nuanced expertise is impeccable.”
Dr. Gates is an educator at heart, prior serving as Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Inglewood USD and as principal of San Marino High School. He led the school to be the No. 1 academically achieving high school in the state of California for three consecutive years. His other accomplishments include earning the Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award from the Los Alamitos Unified School District, where he served as a high school assistant principal for five years and an elementary school principal for two years. Prior to entering the field of education, Dr. Gates served as a group home counselor.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Cherniss, we have transformed this district into a flagship for student-centered outcomes and educational innovation. It is now a district where all parents have a voice, and the results speak for themselves. Thousands of kids are getting free after-school help in math from our incredible teachers, our new computer science school has nearly doubled in size in only two months of enrollment, thousands of middle school kids are participating in after-school sports, and our exemplary special needs students are now earning diplomas and gaining employment in our district. I thank Dr. Gates for having a hand in all of this and pushing forward with urgency our new mantra of Putting Kids First,” said Board President Leandra Blades.
Growing up in Florida in an Air Force family, Dr. Gates experienced the values of discipline and commitment firsthand, which ultimately shaped his path as an educator. As he embarks on this next chapter in his career, Dr. Gates noted that he centers his life around family, faith, and authentic relationships. He is humbled and honored to serve the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
“This promotion is an absolute honor and would not be possible without the dedicated PYLUSD employees who come to work every day to support our students. It is inspiring to work for a superintendent like Dr. Cherniss, whose vision for preparing our students today for their world tomorrow, is unmatched. He is truly inspiring to work with,” stated Dr. Gates.