Tustin Unified Is Set to Hire Superintendent

Trading one Orange County for another, Peter C. Gorman, area superintendent of the Orange County School District in Orlando, Fla., is expected to be appointed superintendent of the Tustin Unified School District at a board meeting today.

As one of five area superintendents for the other Orange County, Gorman managed a $103-million budget, 26 schools and more than 30,000 students. In addition to that job, Gorman was chief operating officer in the areas of business and finance, managing a $1-billion budget. When he starts in Tustin on Feb. 1, he will be in charge of a $105-million budget, 23 schools and almost 16,000 students.

“His qualifications were excellent, and his references were outstanding,” said James O. Fleming, who has been interim superintendent of Tustin schools since former Supt. George W. Mannon moved to the Glendora school system in July. “He’s had a lot of very strong educational experiences at high levels in big districts.”

Gorman was en route to Southern California on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

After a five-month search and interviews with more than 30 candidates, the Tustin board designated Gorman, 36, as its choice. Gorman has worked in the Florida school system for the last 14 years. He started out as a science and social studies teacher, worked his way up to a principal job and then became assistant superintendent. His most recent title was chief information officer and area superintendent for the Orange County, Fla., schools.

“It will be really good to bring in someone from another state with some fresh views and fresh ideas,” said Jane Bauer, a Tustin school board member for 15 years. “He really stood out among the candidates. He has very strong experience in academics. He’s been at all levels of the school. He shares our views on the importance of teaching reading. And I’m also excited about the fact that, in addition to the doctorate, he also has an MBA and is very strong in the areas of business and finance.”

Gorman received his doctorate and master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He has an MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.

“He’s indeed a catch for Tustin,” said Dennis M. Smith, superintendent of the Placentia-Yorba Linda schools, who was previously the superintendent in Orange County, Fla., and hired Gorman for his last two positions in that school district.

“Peter did an outstanding job,” Smith said. “He has incredible interpersonal skills, is extraordinarily articulate and works well with staff. He has a strong focus on academic achievement. He also understands what it takes to deal with issues related to school growth.”

Gorman, who is married with a 2-year-old daughter, Katie, earned $117,500 a year in his Orlando job and will get a raise to $160,000 in Tustin if the board approves his appointment.

His wife, Sue, is vice president for Arnold Palmer Golf Management. She said she will continue her job putting clothing lines together and traveling for the Orlando-based company, which has dozens of California stores.

“We’re very excited,” she said in a telephone interview from her Florida home. “It’s working out perfectly.”