Bob Nelson transitions from role in Fresno Unified to new position at Fresno State, continues commitment to serving community

During his nearly seven years as superintendent, Bob Nelson placed a strong emphasis on initiatives aimed at nurturing local talent, such as the 18 teacher pipeline programs designed for Fresno Unified students, aspiring teachers, and current educators.

According to Nelson, “Seventy-nine percent of new teachers who join Fresno Unified have gone through one of the district’s teacher pipeline programs, but there’s a gap when it comes to nurturing leadership on the administrative side.” This gap has prompted Nelson to envision and push for the creation of a “grow-our-own” administrator program specifically for the Fresno and broader Central San Joaquin Valley area.

In the summer of 2023, a group of 19 district leaders, predominantly people of color, successfully completed the doctoral program at San Diego State University through a collaborative effort between the university and the school district. This success story has inspired Nelson to champion the establishment of a similar program aimed at developing future administrators within the Fresno and Central Valley region.

Reflecting on the accomplishments during his tenure, Nelson highlighted the graduation of a cohort of administrators from San Diego State as a significant highlight, leading to his decision to transition from his role at Fresno Unified to a tenure-track position at California State University, Fresno.

Credit: Fresno Unified / Flickr

While Fresno State currently offers a doctoral program in educational leadership, Nelson aims to enhance this program to attract more local leaders from Fresno and the broader Central Valley region, nurturing administrators tailored to the specific needs of the area.

“I view it as my duty to cultivate a cadre of local leaders capable of guiding Valley schools,” Nelson expressed in an interview with EdSource in May.

Following Nelson’s departure, the Fresno Unified school board appointed Misty Her, the district’s deputy superintendent, as the interim superintendent during the transition period, as a national search commences for a permanent replacement.

Sharing his reflections on his tenure as the superintendent of California’s third-largest district, Nelson emphasized the significance of the new role he is poised to undertake.