A new school leader will be filling the void left by former superintendent Sandra Lyon, who announced in May she was stepping down from the position she had held since 2011. Two temporary superintendents have run the district since July.
Dr. Ben Drati, current assistant superintendent of secondary education for the Santa Barbara Unified School District, will be officially approved during the Thursday, Nov. 3 Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education meeting at Malibu City Hall.
Craig Foster, Malibu’s representative on the Board of Education, lauded Drati’s hiring, saying he would be an asset to the district.
“I think he’s a charismatic leader whose entire history is about collaboration and co-creation, and he’s very much fits exactly where the district’s central strategy of achieving excellence through equity,” Foster said.
Closing the achievement gap among students is a key goal of the Santa Monica-based district.
“Drati … has been instrumental in bringing achievement and access to all students and helping to create a district focused on diversity, inclusiveness and cultural proficiency,” a statement from the district described.
There have been complaints that Santa Monica’s priorities with the district do not include Malibu-specific issues, including PCBs and separation.
A product of Los Angeles public schools and a refugee from a war in Uganda, Drati brings a unique perspective and experience to the job.
“Education is a passion of mine,” Drati said during a special board meeting on Oct. 27 in Santa Barbara. “Some of you don’t know, but we came to the United States as refugees, basically, from a war in Uganda, and if it wasn’t for the public education system, I just wouldn’t be where I am right now.
“So, I’m very passionate about it — I’m protective of it — and sometimes, when you see people attack public education, it hurts me because I know what it can do for people. I know what it did for us.”
KBU News provided a recording of the hearing.
Foster described the process of selecting Drati, which included reviewing “many” applications before settling on a smaller number to interview.
“There were a number of very good candidates and, at the end of that process, the school board unanimously picked Ben [Drati] as the right superintendent for us,” Foster said.
The Oct. 27 meeting was a chance for members of the school board to meet with Drati’s colleagues and vet him as a candidate for superintendent.
“During our validation visit we heard very favorable common themes from participants describing Dr. Drati’s leadership skills,” Board President Laura Lieberman said in a statement provided by the district. “Staff and community members who have worked with him described him as authentic, noble, a unifier, a good listener, a person who engenders trust and has a tremendous heart, builds systems and cohesion, and forms highly productive relationships.”
Foster added that Drati’s collaborative skills would make him an asset to Malibu, following the community’s tumultuous relationship with Lyon.
“He is a collaborator, he’s a relationship builder and I believe he is an excellent listener,” Foster said. “All of those things will be very important for Malibu and its relationship with the school district.”