> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Deasy ready for his next lesson - URL: https://www.smdp.com/deasy-ready-for-his-next-lesson/ - Published: 2006-04-17T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T17:37:36.000Z - Author: Carolyn Sackariason - Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import *Colleagues commend Deasy’s legacy* DISTRICT HDQTRS. — When he leaves town for good next week, John Deasy would like to think he is leaving local schools in better shape than when he found them five years ago. “But that was a community effort,” said Deasy, who is ending his tenure as the superintendent of schools for the Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District, a position he has held since 2001. Deasy is moving to Maryland at the end of next week and starting his new job as chief executive officer at the Prince George County School District. His last day at work is April 26\. He will start his new job only five days later, on May 1. Deasy will have his work cut out for him in the Prince George County School District, home to 190 schools with 133,000 students, 85 percent of whom are black. The 45-year-old education administrator, who was recruited for the job, sees it as a challenge much like he did when he was recruited to head Santa Monica and Malibu schools, which represent 19 schools with 12,500 students. However, the challenges are much different in Maryland than they are here in Santa Monica and Malibu, where the population is predominately white and its residents are affluent. On a daily basis, Deasy will face issues within the school district that include racial tensions, violence, low-achieving students and chronically under-performing schools. It’s not uncommon to find students with loaded weapons on campus, bus drivers being shot, 30-to 40-day absentee rates and schools that haven’t seen any facility upgrades in five years. “All of that will be turned around, and that’s why I’m excited,” Deasy said. And the majority of his colleagues have no doubt in Deasy’s ability to get things turned around in Prince George County. “I think John has been bold and courageous,” said SMMUSD board member Oscar de la Torre. “His legacy will be the balancing of equity and education for all students. It will serve him well where he is going.” He’s been described by community members, employees and board members as brilliant, energetic, committed, relentless and supportive, as well as a strong leader, a great problem solver and a consensus builder. And those qualities, along with community support, have led the district to see major improvements in student achievement at every grade level. The district also enjoys strong partnerships within the community and with City Hall, as well as a balanced budget in a state that places little emphasis on education funding. WHAT A DIFFERENCE FIVE YEARS MAKES The district is far from where it was when Deasy first arrived. Externally, the newcomer faced a lack of electricity in classrooms due to rolling blackouts during the energy crisis. The state was also in the midst of an economic meltdown, leaving most school districts, including the SMMUSD, with major budget deficits. And not many can forget that 10 days after school began, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred. Two local parents were killed on the hijacked flights, and the national agenda immediately changed. Internally, the district was experiencing a plateau, and there was a lack of focus in the core mission, which is the improvement of student achievement while simultaneously closing the achievement gap among students. “We tackled all of that, and I don’t know of another school district in California that advanced the agenda during that time,” Deasy said. “Most just tried to stay alive.” Deasy attributes the SMMUSD’s success to many things and people, but building a set of common beliefs through the development of a strategic plan in 2001 was a key factor. “That is what guided the work,” he said, adding that establishing and strengthening strategic partnerships within the community and at City Hall made the work possible with funding. Deasy, who has moved out of his large office at SMMUSD headquarters to allow interim superintendent Mike Matthews to get comfortable in the position, recently reflected upon his time here — the accomplishments, as well as the high points and low points of heading the district. Deasy said he’s proud of helping to establish a policy on permit students, which doesn’t allow students who live outside of Santa Monica or Malibu to enroll in the district. It has prevented schools and classrooms from massive overcrowding. And student achievement at every school has grown by leaps and bounds, Deasy said. “At every measure, we are at the highest point, but we are not there yet,” he said, adding that not every student in every grade level has reached his or her fullest potential. The low points have been burying students who died in tragedies including murders, accidents and illnesses, as well as the loss of parents, such as those who were victims of the terrorist attacks. “Those days after 9-11 were poignant,” Deasy said. He also would have liked to see full-day kindergarten established within the school district. A study is currently under way to determine if the idea has merit. Deasy’s fondest moments were during his hands-on experiences, visiting classrooms and interacting with principals, teachers and students. “I can visualize my time here with a child’s face,” he said. Laura Rosenbaum, president of the PTA, believes that it is Deasy’s devotion to learning and his commitment to children that has made his tenure here a success. “What we get is the benefit of five years with John because of his great strategic vision of what children need,” she said. “It’s in his soul.” LEAVING ON A HIGH NOTE During Deasy’s tenure, he watched the Education Foundation, a nonprofit fund-raising arm for the district, raise millions of dollars for the district. And while the foundation has existed for decades, it has gained momentum in the past few years, particularly in funding arts programs within the SMMUSD. With the state cutting back its funding even more these days, SMMUSD relies more than ever before on organizations like the Education Foundation, which is solely supported by the community through fund-raising. For The Arts, a campaign of the Education Foundation, has raised more than $2 million to support dance, visual arts, music and drama in local schools. For The Arts’ goal is to build a $15 million endowment. “He has been an incredibly supportive superintendent,” said Linda Gross, executive director of the Education Foundation. “John is the kind of guy that doesn’t worry about the obstacles that are in the way but always says, ‘What needs to happen to get it done?’’’ Deasy also was part of shaping a historic agreement between the SMMUSD and City Hall that guarantees $6 million a year for local schools for five years. The district is in the second year of the agreement, which has the option of being renewed for another five when it expires.“Several million dollars comes from the community... this is a model for other communities,” Deasy said. “It’s amazing for this to happen in Santa Monica, where the overwhelming population doesn’t have kids.” But the city’s residents do understand the economic implications of having a strong school district, which keeps property values high. The Santa Monica community is known for its generosity and wealthy residents, which is why Deasy was able to create enough support from the school board to establish the equity fund. It was designed to eliminate the disparity between rich and poor students. It forces every school in Santa Monica and Malibu to put 15 percent of all private contributions into a central fund, which is then redistributed to schools based on their size and need. However, the concept didn’t come without controversy and opposition. The controversial policy pitted many community members against one another. Opponents called the policy an unfair “tax” that would quell the enthusiasm of many generous donors, many of whom donated to their students’ schools only. School board member Shane McLoud disagreed with Deasy’s reasoning regarding the equity fund. He argued that it is a person’s right to donate a gift to a particular school, and it is not up to him or the district to dictate how it should be used or spent. But now that the policy is in place, McLoud says he understands why it was done and respects Deasy for his convictions on the issue. “He’s been a strong leader, and his intentions were right,” McLoud said. “We could always rely on him for direction... he’s not worried about politics.” PLAYING POLITICS Politics has been a large factor in Deasy’s job, particularly when he played a role in forcing elected officials’ hand in contributing a minimum of $30 million to SMMUSD over five years. The deal was brokered on behalf of efforts by the group Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS). In 2004, the organization gave city officials an ultimatum, announcing it would attempt to change the city charter through a November ballot measure that, if approved by taxpayers, would have forced City Hall to give $6 million to the school district indefinitely. City Hall typically gave the SMMUSD $3 million a year — more during the financially tough years — but school supporters were weary of a developing pattern of marching in front of the council asking for more cash every year. A majority of council members felt backed into a corner, but they agreed to a compromise that was reached behind closed doors and approved publicly. “(Deasy) was stuck in the middle,” said CEPS co-chair Louise Jaffe. “He did an amazing job of reaching an agreement that both sides could agree with. “And now we have that guarantee instead of going through that angst every year, and I think if we didn’t have him, it wouldn’t have happened.” The SMMUSD faced a $13 million budget shortfall in 2003 but was able to close the gap through personnel cuts and new revenue sources, such as the parcel tax, which brings in $6.5 million annually through 2009\. The tax is a flat $225 fee on each of the 32,400-plus pieces of property in Santa Monica and Malibu. MOVING TOO FAST? Deasy said if he were to guess what his critics would say about him, they would say he moved too fast, tried to do too much too quickly and wanted results immediately. “Early on, they said, ‘We know there is a softer side to you, and we’d like to see it,’” Deasy said of his colleagues. “There is a human cost in pushing the organization, but at the same time, I’m so proud of what people have done.” Deasy said what he will miss most is the team he worked with within the school district as well as outside in the community. “I’m not sure I will have that experience again,” he said of the working relationships and the different cultures throughout the community. “It is a city of strong beliefs, and they wear them on their sleeves here.” Deasy said he when he accepted the job, he didn’t expect to receive the overwhelming support he did from the board and from the community in general. “People did whatever it took to help, and I can’t imagine a board that worked so hard to deliver what they promised — that’s a rarity in this country,” he said. On a personal level, Deasy said he’ll miss morning runs at the beach, great restaurants and weekend skiing excursions in the Sierra mountains. “What I won’t miss? I don’t think I’ll miss the potential of an earthquake. It is a constant dis-ease with me,” Deasy said. “And I won’t miss what some people here call a rainstorm.” Deasy has handed the reins over to Matthews, who is acting as interim superintendent until a permanent one is hired by the SMMUSD board. In February, Deasy announced that he would be leaving. Since then, he has been meeting with key community leaders and politicians in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area while working on the transition plan here. Deasy said the transition has been fairly smooth. “Mike (Matthews) and I are a pretty seamless team, and today’s snapshot of the district is very healthy, so it’s been great,” Deasy said. Matthews said he is interested in the permanent job, but the SMMUSD board has hired a consulting firm to do a national search to explore all of its options. “Whoever is going to walk into (the job) will benefit from the leadership and programs that John has brought through,” board member McLoud said. “It’s a big loss to our district. He’s been an amazing superintendent and education leader.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/041706-01_01.jpg) Superintendent of schools John Deasy chats with schools supporter and community activist Louise Jaffe at a recent farewell party. (Photo: Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 17, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)