Sara Noguchi

Sara Noguchi became the 17th superintendent of the Modesto City Schools in July 2018. She started her career at the Elk Grove Unified School District, where she taught math. She moved into administration in 2002 and over the course of five years served as vice principal, interim principal, and principal at various schools within the district. In 2011, Noguchi became the assistant superintendent for the Central Area in the Sacramento City Unified School District, a position that allowed her to build support services for students and professional development opportunities for administrators and teaching professionals. Noguchi then became interim superintendent of the district. From 2015 to 2018, Noguchi was the Associate Superintendent, Innovation, Research & Design for the Twin Rivers Unified School District. She participated in multiple partnerships and community committees and represented the district on a variety of state level panels and committees. With over 30 years of experience in education, she is dedicated to promoting equity, social justice, and the success of every student. Her career has included diverse roles, from teacher to chief executive in various communities. She is board director at the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) and a board member member for the Professional Development Coalition; a representative for the Advisory Council of the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) and a member of the California Association of Suburban School Districts (CALSSD), the Superintendent Advisory Council for the California School Board Association (CSBA), and the Northern California Superintendents’ Network. Dr. Noguchi received her EdD in administration and supervision from the University of the Pacific (UOP), an MA in curriculum and instruction from California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), and a BA in liberal studies from San Diego State University (SDSU). She also holds an administrative services credential from UOP.

updated 2024