Superintendent Search
WELCOME to the Superintendent Search page and thank you for your efforts to learn more about this critical process. The Burbank USD Board of Education has entered a contract with Education Support Services to facilitate the search for Burbank’s next superintendent. The search advisers will update this page throughout the search process, providing key documents, links to surveys, videos of board discussions, upcoming dates, and more.
ESS Search Advisers:
· Dr. Mike Matthews, Lead Adviser (michael.matthews@essinformation.com)
· Dr. Roger Rice, Adviser (roger.rice@essinformation.com)
Key Documents:
· You can find the initial proposal from ESS that was approved by the Board here.
Job Posting:
For interested applicants, here is the job application link. The job posting will close on February 16, 2026.
Board Meeting Discussions:
ESS has had two meetings with the Board, and the links to the livestream of those meetings can be found below:
· December 11, 2025 (Interviews with firms selected as finalists, board deliberation and selection). That section of the meeting begins 1 hour and 55 minutes into the video.
· January 8, 2026 (ESS leads review of process and solicits board input on key elements of the search)
Upcoming Key Dates/Events
· Wednesday, January 14: Employees and Stakeholders received a survey that is a key element of ESS’s engagement process. In order to recruit and hire the best possible candidate, the survey provides an accurate assessment of the entire community's opinions on the strengths of the Burbank Unified School District (BUSD), the challenges that the District will be facing, and the qualities that people are looking for in a new superintendent. This survey is now closed.
· Thursday, January 22. ESS search advisors hosted a community forum at Burbank High School (MPR) and heard from interested parents and community members about the needs of the Burbank Unified School District.
· Tuesday, January 27: We will host a virtual community forum on Tuesday, January 27th at 6:00 PM. It will last approximately one hour. You can join the meeting by clicking this link.
· Thursday, February 5. ESS presented its draft Leadership Profile to the Board. This document will be an ultra-important piece of information for potential candidates, as it will help them to know if they are a good fit for what BUSD is looking for. It will also be a guiding force for the Board, as they use the information to guide their search. Finally, it will be a highly useful source of support once the new superintendent starts, as it will help develop a road map and set of goals for the first few years of the new superintendent’s tenure. The final version of the Leadership Profile can be found here.
Monday, February 16. Final day to turn in applications.
Thursday, February 26th – Special closed session meeting to select slate for interviews.
March 7 and 8 – First and second level interviews
This page will be updated weekly. Please stay tuned!