Ocean View School District pegs Michael Conroy as new superintendent

Michael Conroy enjoyed his time off.

Conroy retired as the Ocean View School District’s deputy superintendent last year. He said he used the time to watch his son Colin play Minor League Baseball last summer on the East Coast, and he’s also enjoyed his daughter Kinsey’s senior year of high school at Mater Dei.

“It really worked out well, to be able to do those family things that sometimes we don’t get the opportunity to do,” he said. “Family is one of the top things for me in life.”

With outgoing Supt. Carol Hansen retiring in July, Conroy decided it was a good time to return.

Conroy, 65, was formally selected as the district’s new superintendent at Tuesday night’s Board of Trustees meeting. He will take over the top leadership position for the district, which is home to more than 7,000 students.

“It’s the best of all worlds,” Conroy said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. At the same time, I’m very excited about moving back into the district. Ocean View School District is second to none. Carol and I came in together and we’ve accomplished so many great things to revitalize the district ... This is such a wonderful opportunity, that it didn’t really take much to say ‘Yes.’”

Michael Conroy, center, is pictured with the Board of Trustees after Tuesday’s Ocean View School District board meeting. Pictured, left to right, are Trustee Norm Westwell, Clerk Jack Souders, Vice President Patricia Singer, Conroy, President Gina Clayton-Tarvin and Trustee John Briscoe.

(Courtesy of Gina Clayton-Tarvin)

Board President Gina Clayton-Tarvin and Vice President Patricia Singer led the board in the superintendent selection process with help from Joseph M. Farley, a former Orange County superintendent. Farley convened a focus group of district parents, teachers, administrators and classified staff to determine what stakeholders desire in a new superintendent, and the issues the new superintendent will encounter.

“Trustees want Dr. Conroy to bring his own perspective to the superintendency while continuing many of the initiatives he helped develop, including a unique program called the Partnership with Administration and Labor,” Clayton-Tarvin said. The program cultivates positive work relations and conditions for employees and stakeholders.

Contoy said that will still be a focus of his as superintendent.

“It’s something to continue to be proud of,” said Conroy, who spent 10 years as a high school math and business teacher before also serving as a high school principal, director of business services and assistant superintendent. “I want to go back and continue that work.”

Conroy signed a three-year contract to replace Hansen, who has been Ocean View’s superintendent since 2015.

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