When the superintendent position at San Bernardino City USD became open in 2023, Mauricio Arellano jumped at the chance to give back to the district that gave so much to him.

As an SBCUSD graduate who got his first teaching job in the district, Arellano considers it his dream job to come back and serve students, so that they can achieve their dreams, too.

Arellano’s commitment to creating an equitable education system that believes in every student’s potential has earned him recognition as ACSA’s 2025 Superintendent of the Year.

Arellano is the son of immigrant parents from Mexico who also worked in SBCUSD schools — his dad was a custodian and his mother worked for a year as a family outreach aide. He was a first generation college student when he pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Riverside, and later his master’s degree in educational administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

After he completed his first degree, his father encouraged him to apply for a teaching job at SBCUSD. In 1990, he began his education career as an elementary bilingual teacher. He rose quickly into administration, working as an assistant principal and principal at multiple sites before becoming director of certificated human resources in 2001. He left San Bernardino City for an HR position in Palm Springs USD and served as superintendent of Redlands USD before returning to SBCUSD as superintendent in 2023.

Once at the helm, Arellano established a vision that focuses on innovation, academic excellence, community partnerships, equity, and safe learning environments. Key initiatives under his leadership include the introduction of school safety protocols at every campus, a districtwide overhaul of MTSS to better serve the diverse needs of students, and strategically allocating resources to address achievement gaps, particularly in underperforming schools.

Through consistent engagement with stakeholders, Arellano ensures collaboration and buy-in for these equity-focused initiatives, creating an environment where all students can thrive and staff are empowered to grow professionally. Guided by his belief in “people first,” he has cultivated a culture of care, ethics, and growth, setting a positive and transformative tone across the district.

His dedication to the mission of ACSA and growing the capacity of other school leaders is evident in his participation in the ACSA Academies program as a presenter, and his service at the charter, region and state levels of ACSA. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the educational leadership program at University of Redlands.

Dr. Alana Hughes-Hunter said his leadership is inspirational, and credits Arellano’s mentorship with her own foray into serving on ACSA’s Board of Directors.

“His visionary approach has led to the implementation of equitable practices, innovative instructional programs, and systems that cultivate a culture of excellence for both students and staff,” said Hughes-Hunter, assistant superintendent of SELPA & Equity with Ontario-Montclair School District. “Whether leading in his capacity as superintendent of San Bernardino City Schools or working on initiatives for ACSA, Mr. Arellano consistently fosters collaboration, inspires confidence and prioritizes the success of all stakeholders.”

What’s your favorite book or quote on leadership? My favorite book on leadership is “The Mind of the Leader” by Hougaard & Carter. My favorite quote from the book is: “As leaders, we must rise above the constant flow of activity and keep our larger goals in sight. We must move from our natural tendency to be effective managers toward becoming inspiring, engaging leaders. If we try to be involved in every detail, we become a bottleneck.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Go slow to go fast.

What’s your best strategy for work-life balance? Make time to be with the ones you love, to do the things you love to do, and to do the things that are healthy for your mind, body, and soul.

What are some life hacks that you would recommend for a new administrator? To always have “inclusive excellence” in mind (create a sense of belonging for all), to always maintain “equanimity” (stay cool, calm and collected) and to check the ego at the door (humility is the best leadership trait).

What would people be surprised to learn about you? My career goal after college was to seek a career in the FBI or CIA. In waiting for those opportunities to unfold, I was hired in the San Bernardino City Unified School District to teach an elementary-level bilingual class under an emergency credential. Thirty-six years later, I am still in public education, loving every minute of it.

What made you want to become a school administrator? The first principal who I worked for when I was an elementary teacher, Mr. Narciso Cardona, saw something in me and encouraged me to take on leadership roles on the campus, and then encouraged me to apply for a position as an assistant principal. That encouragement has led to 32 of my 36 years in public education working as an administrator.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome to get where you are? The biggest challenge I have had to overcome as a professional is the feeling of “imposter syndrome.” Being a son of immigrants, I was made to feel and made myself feel less than. It took much reflection and much intentionality to believe in myself and feel confident that I could compete and contribute in any setting.

What are you most proud of accomplishing? Returning as superintendent to the school district that I was educated in, graduated from and started my career in. This is my opportunity to give back to the organization and community that has given me so much.

How has ACSA supported you in your career/current position? ACSA has provided me with excellent training, a powerful network of colleagues, the opportunity to advocate for public education, and the constant reminder that we are here for kids.

The theme for this year’s Leadership Summit is “Lead Loudly: Sharing Stories, Building Bridges.” What does Lead Loudly mean to you? The term “Lead Loudly” in my opinion means to lead boldly, intentionally, intelligently, courageously, and unapologetically.