SCUSD’s new superintendent, Dr. Damon J. Wright has had some interesting growth experiences throughout his life that have shaped who he is today. His school life and his 25 years in various educational careers have taught him how to navigate challenges and set goals, as well as provide insights into the importance of K-12 education and what students need to thrive.
Dr. Wright has had a variety of experiences that shaped his worldviews and values. In fact, he believes that “every experience we have as humans prepares us for the next experiences that are forthcoming.” When reflecting on his time in high school, he recalled that he wasn’t academically driven or disciplined as a student. Teachers often told him that he was smart but didn’t apply himself, he mentioned. However, he did have a passion for athletics, and expressed that he learned many life skills through playing sports like football and track that have suited him well in his career. “My coaches were really into goal setting and teaching you how to handle adversity,” he explained, adding that his love for sports was his motivation to follow through with his education. In addition to playing, Dr. Wright also enjoys watching sports because he believes that “competition has the ability to bring the best out of people.”
In his early 20s, Dr. Wright took a job as a probation officer with the intent of generating more income. However, hearing the stories of inmates in prison ended up intriguing him and changed his perspective on his role in improving society. “They always talk about school,” he recalled. He recollected that the inmates often expressed that if they could do it all over again, they would’ve done their schoolwork, or wouldn’t have gotten in so much trouble in school. “It didn’t take me long to realize that I was on the wrong side of the school to prison pipeline. I wanted to help people before they became incarcerated,” he revealed. This realization led him back to school to get his master’s degree in school counseling and his credentials in school psychology. When asked about his journey from being a school counselor to becoming a superintendent, he explained that he got these ‘taps on the shoulder’ from people around him that recognized his hard work and skill set that encouraged him to advance. His desire to help students and solve problems also inspired him to take on bigger leadership roles to make an impact in education.
Dr. Wright views relationships and communication as a critical part of student life. He believes that having student-teacher conversations about misunderstandings in class and getting to know the student’s learning style is key to helping kids learn and apply concepts to the best of their ability. “I’d like to see our students advocate more for themselves as learners,” he said, also advising that “as professionals we have to identify whether our students are understanding it or not.” He comments that the ultimate goal is to differentiate instruction to make sure that all the students understand the content being taught, but the task is easier said than done with a class of 30 kids. Dr. Wright also elaborates on the importance of approaching students with the intent to understand by emphasizing that “even the students who are acting out, maybe getting in trouble, getting suspended, they’re crying out for help. I think it’s our job as adults to try to identify what those areas of support that student needs.” He also notes that “it’s important for every student to have at least one positive adult connection on campus, and that factors into their level of success.”
Currently, Dr. Wright is working to “establish a north star” and implement action items based on the feedback he received from the school district community in what he is calling the “Next 100 Days.” He mentioned that some of SCUSD’s overall goals include school stability, raising student achievement, providing support to English language learners, and reducing equity gaps for students. To the SCUSD community, he emphasizes, “We’re here for you, self advocacy is important, we want you to be successful, and your voice is important so don’t hesitate to use it.”
