Husson has served as the district Chief Operating Officer

The Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees unanimously selected Bruce Husson to be the district’s interim superintendent on June 7. Husson, a graduate of the Sweetwater District, is currently Sweetwater’s Chief Operating Officer.

In the four years he has served the district Husson has been responsible for overseeing a variety of departments, including facilities planning, construction, modernization; information technology; maintenance; food services; purchasing and transportation. During his tenure he has helped lead the district through one of the most ambitious building periods in Sweetwater history. The district has built two new comprehensive high schools and a middle school, and it is modernizing 19 schools. That represents more than $200 million in construction.

At the Helm: Sweetwater's own Bruce Husson, Chief Operating Officer, was named Interim Superintendent on June 7.

Husson takes over the helm from Superintendent Edward Brand who has accepted the superintendency of the San Marcos Unified School District. Brand was superintendent of Sweetwater for 11 years and is credited with such lasting reforms as the Compact for Success, the district’s guaranteed admission program with San Diego State University.

In accepting the position, Husson said he was full of enthusiasm for his new assignment.

“I am delighted and awed at the same time,” Husson said. “I view my role as a combination of continuing the relentless pursuit of academic achievement initiated by Dr. Brand, and being a stabilizing influence to the organization while it’s going through a potentially unsettling transition process.”

Among Husson’s first priorities is working closely with the board as it conducts a recruitment for a permanent successor to Dr. Brand.

“I believe one of the most important jobs of any board is its selection of a CEO,” Husson said.

During that time, which could take six months to a year, Husson said he will listen to the people who make up Sweetwater’s family — students, parents, faculty, staff and community members.

“I want everybody to know that their ideas, thoughts, challenges and hopes are all valued in the way we make decisions,” Husson said, adding that he will draw upon the expertise in the district.

“This organization has an abundance of exceptional leaders at every level,” Husson said. “As with any organization, even when one individual has an extraordinary influence, as did Dr. Brand, one individual is not the only leadership influence. The Sweetwater district will continue its fine progress because of the great work of leaders throughout the organization.”

In selecting Husson, the board was looking for somebody from within the organization who could hit the ground running, said Board President Jim Cartmill.

“Bruce’s extensive service in the administrative side of schools will be a valuable asset as we conduct a comprehensive, nationwide search,” Cartmill said. “The selection of Mr. Husson gives us an organizational leader to complement our top tier educational leadership.”

Husson is approaching his 37th anniversary serving public schools. He served for nearly 33 years in the San Diego Unified School District, where his last assignment was assistant superintendent of business services.

He has earned national recognition for projects he has developed in public education, including the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Council of the Great City Schools and the National Management Effectiveness Award from American Schools and University Magazine. Husson also serves as the president of the Grossmont Union High School District Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and is a member of the board of directors of the California Coast Credit Union.

Husson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University and a Master of Science degree in school business administration from Pepperdine University.