As assistant superintendent of business services, Britton oversees five departments. Though all five serve different purposes, Britton approaches problem-solving with the same guiding principle — experiment with different solutions and try something new.

She leads the district’s Child Nutrition team, which serves nearly 15,000 meals daily and is a cornerstone to the district’s whole-child approach. Britton also leads the Maintenance & Transportation department, assuring families that student travel in Ceres is safe and reliable, and spearheads annual visits to all 20 campuses to evaluate safety, cleanliness and learning conditions.

Britton guided the district’s $114 million Measure Y school bond, approved by voters in 2024, to modernize older campuses and support new construction. Additional projects include a completed aquatic center and performing arts center, a stadium scheduled to open in 2026 at Central Valley High School, and stadium upgrades at Ceres High School.

Britton has been an ACSA member since 2006 and was the Region 7 vice president of programs from 2018 to 2020. Before that, she was president of the Stanislaus Charter.

“Something that truly sets Kristi apart is her ability to translate systems-level leadership into daily student impact,” said Dr. Amy Peterman, superintendent of Ceres USD. “Whether expanding access to arts and athletics, ensuring reliable transportation and nutritious meals, or reimagining learning spaces, she leads with empathy, integrity, and a deep understanding of school-site realities.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? When I was a new site administrator, I had my fair share of learning experiences, and my first principal was a great leadership coach. My inherent leadership style is very collaborative. When I was faced with a situation in which a group of teachers were not in favor of an initiative I was bringing forward, he shared some valuable advice. When working with a group, whether that is teachers, other administrators, or anyone really, make sure you clearly communicate at the onset what decisions will be made collaboratively and what decisions you are just getting input on. This advice has served me well in my different leadership roles.

What are some life hacks that you would recommend for a new administrator? Establish what work-life integration looks like for you. There is no such thing as “balance.” Clearly communicate with your family what this looks like and establish boundaries that you can commit to.

Lean into productivity tools that work for you. I integrate my work and personal calendars and schedule everything — including lunch, intentional personal check-in times, as well as “project time” so my entire day doesn’t get filled up with meetings.

Find things that fill your bucket that you can go to when you need a reset. That could be visiting an amazing TK or CTE classroom — whatever reminds you of your “why” when you need it.

What would people be surprised to learn about you? Most often people are surprised that I was a bartender before I started teaching part-time and that I participated in college and community theater productions. I actually learned some valuable lessons and skills from both of these experiences that I use as an administrator.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your current position? Post-COVID, the district experienced a shift from many years of steady student enrollment growth to declining enrollment. Communicating with all our educational partners and planning for current and future decline was a reality of my new position leading the Business Services division. We have now been “right-sizing” our district over the past several years. As positions become vacant, we review each to determine if we will refill the position or not. This has not been easy for the sites/departments as they experience running schools and programs with fewer staff members. It has definitely been a mindset shift for everyone.

How has ACSA supported you in your career? I was encouraged to join ACSA at the very beginning of my administrative career and it was the best thing I could have done. The mentorship, relationships and professional development have been invaluable. I encourage every administrator to join, take advantage of all the resources that are available, and to join a committee or run for a leadership position.

The theme for this year’s Leadership Summit is “You Belong Here: Leadership for Every Student.” What does belonging look like for you, your staff or your students? Many staff members in my division do not work directly with students, but the work they do every day matters to students, staff, and our community. We are intentionally communicating with staff that they are a significant part of the district and what they do is essential to student learning. Kids can’t learn if the environment isn’t clean and safe, or if technology isn’t working properly, or instructional materials are not ordered and delivered. Their work plays a vital role in creating the conditions students and staff need to succeed.