Retired educator Susan Vickrey’s school reforms still shape California and Utah classrooms

Influential Women is highlighting Susan Vickrey, a retired superintendent whose career spanned teaching, principalship and district leadership in California and Utah. Her work included launching North Star Academy, starting a Spanish immersion program and helping districts meet state performance standards. Why it matters: - Susan Vickrey’s career shows how a single educator can reshape schools through curriculum design, leadership development and labor stability. - Her programs and leadership decisions continue to affect students and districts years after her retirement in 2012. - Her profile also underscores the continuing importance of collaboration between school leaders, teachers and unions in large district systems. What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Susan Vickrey, a retired superintendent with decades of experience in classroom teaching, school leadership and district administration. - Vickrey built her career in Utah and California and retired in 2012. - Her work included service as a principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent and superintendent. - The profile includes a link to her Influential Women profile . The details: - Vickrey started as an elementary school teacher, then stepped away from education temporarily to raise her two children. - A principal health crisis led her to take on many administrative duties for most of a school year, which pushed her toward formal leadership training. - She earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Utah. - She became a K–6 principal in Kaysville, Utah. - After her husband relocated to California, she accepted a principal role at John Gill Elementary in Redwood City. - She overcame California credentialing barriers by passing the National Teacher’s Exam and earning Tier 2 certification from St. Mary’s College in Moraga. - In Redwood City, she designed and opened North Star Academy for high-achieving students. - North Star Academy still operates today based on her original program design. - She also launched a Spanish immersion program in the 1993–1994 school year. - That program grew into Adelante School, a bilingual education program that remains active. - After a year teaching at the University of Utah, she returned to California and joined Pacifica School District. - She spent 12 years in Pacifica as curriculum director, assistant superintendent and superintendent. - Under her leadership, all schools in the district moved to meet state performance standards. - She also mentored staff members who later became principals. - Vickrey finished her career as assistant superintendent at Sequoia Union High School District, where she spent more than two years overseeing personnel and contract negotiations. - She managed district operations and worked with staff and labor representatives during that final role. Between the lines: - Vickrey’s career reflects a leadership style built on program creation, staff development and negotiation rather than only top-down administration. - Her emphasis on teacher involvement suggests she viewed reform as something that only lasts when educators help shape it. - Her comments on education changing since the 1960s and 1970s point to a broader warning against using outdated school models in a technology-driven era. - Her long record of labor negotiations without a strike, walkout or major disruption suggests a rare degree of stability in districts facing budget pressure. - Her nomination for Who’s Who Among American Teachers by a former student indicates the personal impact of her leadership, not just the institutional one. What’s next: - Vickrey’s legacy is likely to live on through the schools and programs she helped build, especially North Star Academy and Adelante School. - Her approach to collaborative leadership remains relevant as districts balance academic goals, staffing challenges and union relations. - The Influential Women profile positions her story as a model for educators focused on reform, student support and sustainable district change. The bottom line: - Susan Vickrey’s influence extended far beyond her retirement, leaving behind schools, programs and leadership practices that still shape students’ experiences.