Modesto, CA - The Modesto City Schools (MCS) Board of Education is pleased to announce that it has named a finalist, Dr. Vanessa Buitrago, for the position of Superintendent. Buitrago, who is a graduate of MCS schools, will lead the district as its next superintendent, pending site visitation and board approval.
The board’s selection follows a thorough search and evaluation process, during which trustees confirmed that Buitrago’s experiences as an educator, administrator, and former MCS student make her the right person to continue moving the district forward. Buitrago, currently a network deputy superintendent at the Oakland Unified School District, attended Modesto High School, where she was an International Baccalaureate (IB) student, and graduated in 2001. Prior to that, she attended Beard Elementary School and Roosevelt Junior High School.
“Becoming the superintendent of Modesto City Schools is a personal, not just professional achievement,” Buitrago said. “I will work tirelessly with our Board, staff, and families to offer every student the conditions and experiences that will help them develop the skills, knowledge, and character traits to thrive. Moreover, I hope to serve as a daily reminder to our young people that education opens doors, hard work matters, and striving toward high expectations and personal goals can lead to unimaginable opportunities regardless of where you come from.”
Buitrago, who brings a combined 20 years of experience in education and educational leadership, was one of four finalists interviewed by the Board of Education after an intensive evaluation process. That process began shortly after Superintendent Dr. Sara Noguchi announced in January that she will retire at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
“We will continue to build upon Dr. Noguchi’s accomplishments and adapt as our local, state, and national contexts evolve,” Buitrago said. “I express my sincerest appreciation for Dr. Noguchi’s unparalleled leadership and genuine care for the people of Modesto.”
Buitrago currently serves as High School Network Deputy Superintendent at Oakland Unified, where she oversees high school principals and programming as well as school budgets in an urban district with more than 30,000 students. Prior to her time at Oakland Unified, Buitrago served as Instructional Assistant Superintendent at the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), where she was responsible for hiring and supervising administrators, designed professional development opportunities for district leaders, guided the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) to support learners at all levels, and more.
Prior to this role, she served SCUSD in roles as site principal, notably as the principal of the School of Engineering and Sciences, where she helped oversee a wide variety of student support services including English language learning, special education and behavioral interventions. Prior to her roles as site principal, she held positions as a special education supervisor, a teacher, and a university instructor.
“Dr. Buitrago has spent her career focused on improving education for all students,” said MCS Board President Abel Maestas. “As a child, she was an English language learner determined to further her own education, and has since helped countless students in Sacramento, San Diego, and Oakland do the same. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Buitrago back home to Modesto and we are confident that her dedication will lead to continued progress for students.”
Buitrago holds a doctorate in educational leadership from California State University, Sacramento, a Master of Arts degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of the Pacific, a Master of Arts degree in political science from California State University, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Southern California. Buitrago also obtained a certificate in Statistical, Social and Economic Research from the University of Ghana in West Africa.
Buitrago will assume her role in July, after board trustees approve her employment contract at their meeting on May 12.
“A warm embrace awaits Dr. Buitrago here in Modesto,” Noguchi said. “Her pursuits and achievements in life are a testament to the strong foundation that MCS schools are able to give our students, and I know our board is confident that Dr. Buitrago’s work will help MCS be that foundation for more and more students in the years to come.”
The selection process that the district announced in January received strong interest, with a total of 14 applicants. The board’s decision is a reflection of input gathered from parents, students, and educational partners including the California School Employees Association (CSEA), and the Modesto Teachers Association (MTA). Leadership Associates, an executive search firm, led the process. Along with Noguchi, Leadership Associates will assist in Buitrago’s entrance to the role of superintendent.