November 16, 2020

At a recent board meeting, the Ceres Unified School District Board of Trustees acted unanimously to appoint Denise Wickham to lead the district of 14,000-plus students when current Superintendent Scott Siegel retires at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Wickham joined Ceres Unified in 2005 and held administrative roles in the Educational Services and Personnel Services divisions before becoming Deputy Superintendent of Personnel Services in 2013. She previously served with Riverbank and Manteca districts.

The daughter of an immigrant dairyman, Wickham says her ability to benefit from the opportunities education provides has fueled her commitment to ensuring an equitable education for all students. Believing that “hiring is the most important thing we do” to ensure successful outcomes for students, she has led the district’s focus on attracting quality candidates and providing the support they need to thrive. Wickham launched the CUSD Leadership Academy to develop emerging leaders and has advocated for and implemented meaningful professional development opportunities as well as recognitions of exemplary staff. During a particularly severe substitute teacher shortage, she has been known to hop in her car to pick up a substitute teacher who had car trouble on the way to school, her staff said.

An ACSA member since 1998, Wickham has served in leadership roles including Region 7 Representative to the State ACSA Board (2016-2019); Region 7 President (2008-2009) and Vice President; Stanislaus Charter President (2004-2005), Board Secretary and Vice President of Programs; State ACSA Elementary Council; and State representative at the National Association of Elementary Principals Leaders Convention in Washington, D.C. (July 2004). She has been a frequent presenter for Region 7 and the Stanislaus Charter and has hosted a variety of ACSA Women’s Leadership Network events. ACSA has celebrated Wickham’s work through multiple honors and awards over the course of her career including Region 7’s Bill Ullom Memorial Award in 2016, Central Office Administrator of the Year in 2011, and Principal of the Year in 2003, as well as the Ray Curry Award in 2013.

Wickham is also active in the Ceres community as a member of the local Soroptimist International service club, the Ceres Community Collaborative and CUSD student mentor programs.

Siegel was appointed Superintendent of the Ceres Unified School District when his predecessor, Walt Hanline, retired in 2010. Siegel’s 32-year career in education began as a teacher at Ceres High School in the 1989-1990 school year. He was later promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, where he led the district’s focus on fiscal solvency. As Superintendent, Siegel has made it his mission to increase students’ access to post-secondary education, launching the “Ceres is Serious About College” initiative and frequently presenting on the economic and career impacts of a college degree. In a letter informing CUSD families of his intent to retire, Siegel expressed gratitude for the trust the district and community of Ceres have afforded him. “It has been a privilege to serve the students, families, and staff of this outstanding district as Superintendent for nearly 11 years,” he wrote.