Imperial County School Superintendent Todd Finnell at his swearing-in ceremony, Monday, January 5.
EL CENTRO – At his swearing in today as Imperial County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Todd Finnell unveiled plans to revitalize the Imperial County Office of Education and introduced the two veteran educational leaders who will round out his executive management team.
“I’m excited to get started on the priorities that the voters overwhelmingly supported. They called for change and we intend to deliver,” said Finnell. He was elected to the office last June with 63 percent of the vote.
Joining Finnell in the restructured management team will be Amanda Brooke, who until last month was superintendent of the McCabe School District and Damon Smith, former associate superintendent for business services at the Alameda County Office of Education, who spent 17 years at ICOE in similar capacities until moving to Alameda in 2010.
Finnell received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University. He served as an assistant superintendent at ICOE where he ran multiple statewide initiatives prior to joining the staff at Imperial Valley College, where he was Vice President for Student Services, Technology, and Research. “Imperial Valley College is a better place today due to Dr. Finnell’s leadership,” said IVC’s President, Dr. Victor Jaime. “His years of experience in K-12 coupled with his experience in higher education will most certainly benefit Imperial County. We at Imperial Valley College look forward to working with ICOE to best serve the needs of our communities.”
Finnell said the first thing on the agenda for his leadership at ICOE will be a “deep dive” into the operations of the County Office of Education. “We’ll be spending the next several months engaged in strategic planning, both within the organization, and across our communities, to ensure we are supporting and promoting education as a means to empower Imperial Valley” Finnell said. “I look forward to working with individuals and organizations throughout the valley in this mission and trust that great things are going to happen.”
By restructuring ICOE’s executive leadership team, Finnell is replacing four cabinet positions with two. Brooke will be responsible for academic and student services while Smith will oversee ICOE operations, such as human resources, budgeting, facilities and technology.
According to Finnell, the reorganization addresses two critical areas: cost and structural empowerment. Finnell said ICOE is facing a projected 2014-15 budget deficit of nearly $4 million and the executive leadership reorganization saves an immediate $180,000 annually. “Cost reductions must be made as far away from services to students and the community as possible,” he said. “We also need to ensure our decision-making is as efficient as it can be so we remain sensitive and responsive to our community needs.”
As for structural empowerment, the reorganization streamlines decision-making by reducing administrative levels and “provides greater coordination and collaboration across the organization,” he added. “We have exceptional people at ICOE who are ready to take on greater responsibility and leadership. We need to empower them with the support, resources, and opportunity to succeed.”
Brooke headed the McCabe School District since 2002. In the past 12 years, she led the district to the highest academic test scores in Imperial County. Brooke also has extensive knowledge of school financing and fiscal responsibilities. She was instrumental in securing state hardship funding for the building of what is now Corfman School in the McCabe District. In June, McCabe voters approved a bond measure that will construct a gymnasium/multipurpose facility at Corfman as well as make other improvements in the district. “I’m excited to join the leadership team at ICOE,” said Brooke. “I wholeheartedly believe in the direction we are going and know that our community will benefit greatly from our work.”
Brooke has served on the Legislative Policy State Committee for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and is currently the president-elect for the San Diego and Imperial County Region. She is a board member on the El Centro Regional Medical Center and is currently the vice chair.
Smith is one of the principal architects of the County Office Local Control Funding Formula and a recognized statewide expert on county office of education funding. He is a past chair of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association Business and Administration Steering Committee and has also chaired its County Office Finance Subcommittee as well as subcommittees on county office equalization and special education. He is an army veteran who was assigned to military intelligence with the 101st Airborne Division.
Finnell called the addition of Smith and Brooke as essential to his plans to implement changes sought by the voters. “I’m very pleased with the team that has been assembled to drive our work at ICOE,” Finnell said. “We are looking forward to a great future with ICOE and its many dedicated teachers and staff.”