Broward and Sacramento Name New Superintendents

  • Howard Hepburn was recently named the new superintendent of Florida’s Broward County Public Schools after previously serving as the district’s deputy superintendent of teaching and learning. Hepburn will succeed Peter Licata who is retiring due to medical reasons.  

    In addition to serving as deputy superintendent of teaching and learning for the 254,384-student school system, Hepburn has held roles as instructional superintendent, classroom teacher, principal, and assistant principal prior to joining the Broward County school system.

    “I thank the school board for their trust and support as I proudly serve the district in this new capacity,” said Hepburn in a news release. “As superintendent, my focus remains on moving our district to an ‘A’ grade and ensuring all students receive a world-class education. We will continue to prioritize closing achievement gaps, increasing student access to accelerated courses and implementing strategies to support continuous student achievement.”

    California’s Sacramento City Unified School District also didn’t look far for its next superintendent. The 40,711-student school district named veteran educator Lisa Allen as its next superintendent. Allen has served as interim superintendent since July 2023, succeeding Jorge Aguilar.

    Allen, who was the district’s deputy superintendent before becoming interim leader, is the first Black woman to lead the Sacramento school system. She began her teaching career in the district 28 years ago as a resource teacher supporting Title I students and has overseen every major department within the school system.

    “My job title may be changing, but my top priority remains the same thing—improving student outcomes,” said Allen in a press release. “We accomplish that by working collectively to ensure our schools are safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces where every student is empowered to learn and thrive.”