Hilda Maldonado

Hilda Maldonado is the superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD). She is the second female—and first Latina—to serve as superintendent in the history of SBUSD.  Prior to this role, Maldonado previously served as associate superintendent of leadership development and partnerships in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). She also held positions as senior executive director of diversity, learning, and instruction, and as executive director of the Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department for LAUSD. She began her career with LAUSD as an elementary school principal and instructional specialist. Maldonado earned her PhD in social justice leadership from Loyola Marymount University. She also holds a PLD in leadership from Harvard Business School.

updated 2025