SOLEDAD — A familiar face has returned to Soledad Unified School District, as Randy Bangs rejoins the district as the Assistant Superintendent of Education Services.
Bangs started with the Soledad Unified School District in 1997 when the new high school was scheduled to open as a planning principal. Due to construction bids coming in higher than expected and construction taking longer than anticipated, Bangs was reassigned to Main Street Middle School as the principal.
When Soledad High School opened in 1999, Bangs served as principal there for five years. Following that, Bangs worked in special projects at the district for two years. He oversaw special education, after-school programs and migrant education federal programs.
“That was the first nine years in the district and they were wonderful years,” Bangs said. “This is a district that has its eye on the ball. It’s one that has the student achievement and safety of students and employees at the forefront.”
Bangs’ priority in coming back to the district is to listen and learn in his first weeks and months in the role. He plans to see where he can contribute and provide leadership moving forward.
His role has an emphasis on instruction, curriculum and measurement of instruction and curriculum. He will also be involved with professional development, specifically the training provided to teachers and the classified staff as well as providing support for new teachers.
“We have goals related to graduation rate, proficiency for students, safety, parent involvement, high quality staff and support for our english language learners that may need more resources to meet the goals,” Bangs said. “There’s so many great people and talent in the district that do that work, it’s really a team effort.”
Bangs said he is excited to return to the district. He came back to the district for some professional development workshops a few weeks back and recognized a lot of the staff who have been working at the district.
Bangs is working on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and trying to engage with the community more. He is in the process of planning community meetings that will occur at each school site allowing parents to talk about how they see their schools and district.
Bangs’ first day back at the Soledad Unified School District was on Jan. 16.
