After nearly 14 years of working as superintendent of the Irvine Unified School District, Terry Walker will retire next year.
Walker is set to depart from the school district at the end of January after working for the district for nearly 30 years in various capacities, including as a teacher and assistant superintendent in charge of human resources.
Walker, 57, said his decision to retire came at the “behest” of his family and physicians.
“Deciding to retire after 30 years with the district, including 14 years as superintendent, was not an easy decision,” Walker said. “It was the culmination of thoughtful reflection over the past year, considering both the needs of the district and my own personal journey.”
“Serving as superintendent has been deeply fulfilling,” he added, “but it is also a demanding role, and I reached a point where I realized I needed to prioritize my health and well-being.”
In 2011, Walker was selected by IUSD’s board to take on the position of superintendent after his predecessor, Gwen Gross, retired.
Walker started out in IUSD as a teacher at Santiago Hills Elementary. He said spending almost three decades with the IUSD — a district with more than 38,000 students and 4,000 staff members — has been one of the greatest honors of his life.
“Irvine is a community that values education, innovation and excellence, and I have been privileged to be part of this culture of continuous improvement,” Walker said. “Working alongside so many talented educators, dedicated staff and supportive families has been both humbling and rewarding.”
“Their tireless efforts have inspired me to give my very best every day and have made my time in Irvine a true labor of love,” he said.
Walker said he is proud of how the district under his tenure has “prioritized the whole child, ensuring that academic achievement is balanced with social-emotional well-being.”
“From our investments in mental health supports to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging,” Walker said, “Irvine Unified has become a model for preparing students not just for college and careers, but for life.”
Earlier this year, IUSD celebrated ranking first among other California public schools with at least 35,000 students in science, math and English and literacy, per the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, the state’s student assessment system. IUSD said it was the eighth year in a row, with the exemption of a two-year period during the COVID-19 pandemic, that it had ranked among the top of schools in the state and county.
IUSD’s board is expected to announce an interim superintendent who will oversee the rest of the school year soon, said district spokesperson Annie Brown.
The next school board meeting is set for Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m., held at the District Administration Center at 5050 Barranca Pkwy. in Irvine. Meetings are also live-streamed online.
Brown said the search process for the next superintendent will include input from the school district’s community.
