About SBCSS

The Office of the Superintendent is committed to working with school districts, other agencies, families and the community at large by providing services, information, advocacy and leadership – always with a focus on students.

With an annual operating budget of $350 million, the County Superintendent oversees the programs and operations of the office and serves as the employer of record for nearly 2,000 employees including teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrative staff.

The Office of the Superintendent provides educational leadership to the school districts in San Bernardino County; advocates locally, statewide and nationally for policies and resources that are in the best interest of students; and serves as a spokesperson for the educational needs of students throughout the county and statewide.

The County Superintendent is an elected position and serves a four-year term. The position also serves as the ex-officio secretary and executive officer to the County Board of Education and provides administrative support services to the County School Boards Association.

Communications - (909) 386-2413
Communications is responsible for external and internal communications that inform and engage the public, school districts, and community partners, and promote programs operated by the County Schools office and public education in general. This includes: media and public relations; Community Coalition public information efforts; administration of the County Schools web site and web development services for districts; and other community outreach activities.

Specific media relations activities include: issuing news releases for County Schools programs, activities and educational issues; publishing News to Use educational news clippings; fostering media relations; and serving as the organizational spokesperson.

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Business Services Division

Mr. Ted Alejandre, Assistant Superintendent, (909) 386-2459
The Business Services Division oversees the operational side of the County Schools Office. The deputy superintendent also acts as the chief business official.

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Legislative Services - (909) 386-2947
Legislative Services is a resource center for information related to state and federal legislation, Education Code questions, and state ballot initiatives related to education.

Legislative Services also prepares subject-specific reports on issues such as school facilities, school finance, and curriculum and instruction. A chaptered bill report, which summarizes new laws affecting public education, is prepared at the end of each legislative session.

Finally, Legislative Services serves as support staff to SANDABS (San Bernardino County District Advocates for Better Schools). SANDABS is a legislative advocacy coalition of school district trustees and superintendents representing education in San Bernardino County.

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Education Support Services Division

Beth Higbee, Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent, (909) 386-2600
In support of the San Bernardino County Superintendent of School’s overarching goals—Teach them well. Keep them safe. Prepare them for the future—the Education Support Services Division has developed the following vision for student success to guide our work with schools, districts, and communities in San Bernardino County:

Every student who enrolls in our schools will graduate from high school prepared for the option of enrolling in a four-year college or university and pursuing a successful career. Students will have the confidence, competence, and information needed to make choices for their future, and will have demonstrated strength and competence in all areas needed for full participation in the 21st Century economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life of our nation and global society. In addition to academic competency, these areas include technological literacy, communication skills, aesthetic sensibility, critical thinking and reasoning, social, environmental, and civic responsibility, multilingual and crosscultural competency, and strength of character.

The Education Support Services Division will be successful to the extent that it can assist our schools, districts, and communities to achieve these outcomes for every group of students our schools serve.

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Human Resources Division

Lisa Norman, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, (909) 386-9572
The San Bernardino County Superintendents Schools employs close to 1,600 employees and offers an excellent benefit package.

Personnel Services seeks viable candidates, both credentialed and classified, for the organization, maintains employee records, and works in conjunction with Internal Business regarding salary and benefits. Personnel Services is the Superintendent's personnel relations arm and negotiates employee contracts with three employee associations - The San Bernardino California Teachers Association, San Bernardino Public Employees Association, and California School Employees Association.

Fingerprinting Services are provided by for school districts within San Bernardino County. A database of eligible substitutes available to work for member districts of the Substitute Co-operative is maintained. Fingerprinting services are also available for private and public agencies, private and charter schools, as well as any other agency that is required to conduct business with school districts.

Credential Services is mandated by law to audit, register and certify the credentials, certificates and permits held or applied for by all certificated personnel for all the school districts and Regional Occupational Programs of San Bernardino County. In this capacity, it maintains official records for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing relating to monitoring/review of teaching and service assignments in all districts of San Bernardino County. Unemployment Insurance the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools has the responsibility of establishing, coordinating, and maintaining an unemployment insurance management system for each school district and community college within the county of San Bernardino.

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SELPAs–Special Education Local Plan Areas

Each Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) is a consortium of participating school districts (and independent charter schools) formed for the purpose of ensuring that quality special education programs and services are available throughout the region to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities.

In partnership with member districts, the SELPA provides high quality services and support in such areas as curriculum/program development, budget planning and review, interagency coordination, personnel development, legal assistance, fiscal management, evaluation, management information system, program coordination, transition planning and Community Advisory Committee support.

The Special Education Local Plan, developed and maintained in each community by the people who live there, is the foundation for these services.

Each SELPA region is governed by a Board of Directors, which is made up of the superintendents of each participating school district, and is chaired by the County Superintendent of Schools.

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Student Services Division

Mr. Randy Elphic, Assistant Superintendent, (909) 777-0777
Direct student services for alternative and special education, as well as state preschool programs.

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