East San Jose school district swiftly appoints interim leader after superintendent’s firing

AFTER HIRING AND FIRING a second superintendent within one year, Alum Rock Union School District chose a new interim leader.

In an unanimous vote during a special board of trustees meeting on Saturday, the district appointed, effective Aug. 12, Sandra Garcia, assistant superintendent of instructional services as its acting superintendent. Garcia had already assumed major administrative responsibilities for the district. She previously served as a school district principal, teacher, resource teacher and instructional coach and was a founding member of Adelante Dual Language Academy. She was named Principal of the Year in 2013 by the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and District 5 Hero by District 5 United. The district abruptly fired Superintendent German Cerda on Thursday, after hiring him last fall.