Ocean View names new superintendent

The Ocean View School District has named Gustavo “Gus” Balderas as its new superintendent, several months after former Supt. William Loose retired.

Balderas, who currently oversees the Madera Unified School District in Central California, beat 20 other applicants for the position. He is scheduled to start work at Ocean View on Jan. 1.

Roni Ellis, the district’s director of administration and community relations, said Balderas won Ocean View over with his spirit and extensive resume.

“The people that did the search and our board did make a statement that his extensive knowledge of the curriculum and his business background, in addition to his passion for education, made him a great candidate,” she said. “I think he’s got a great energy. They just saw something in him that was a good match for what we need right now.”

She added that although Balderas wouldn’t come on board until January, she hoped he could make a few “guest appearances” before then.

In addition to serving as Madera superintendent, Balderas has worked as a teacher, counseling coordinator, principal and administrator in Oregon, according to a release from Ocean View.

“I am incredibly excited to begin work with Ocean View students, staff and community,” Balderas said in the release. “Ocean View has a stellar reputation as an innovative leader in education. We will work to build on our successes and look for new areas to expand our efforts.”

Gary Smuts currently serves as Ocean View’s interim superintendent, replacing Kathy Kessler, the former superintendent of the Huntington Beach City School District, who filled in earlier this year.

michael.miller@latimes.com

Twitter: @MichaelMillerHB