UKIAH, Calif. – On Monday, the Mendocino County Board of Education named Damon Dickinson as the interim county superintendent.

“The board was impressed with Mr. Dickinson's experience, qualifications, and the support he received from persons involved in education around the county. He will begin in the role on Feb. 1,” said MCOE Board President Donald Cruser.

Dickinson has a Ph.D. in education policy and management from the University of Oregon and has worked in education since 1973.

He began as a school psychologist and counselor before moving into administration as a school principal, a director of special education, and a county deputy superintendent of schools. After retiring, he became an educational consultant.

He has extensive knowledge of education in Mendocino County and 35 years of administrative experience, having served as the principal of Anderson Valley Elementary School, the assistant superintendent of educational services for Ukiah Unified School District and the deputy superintendent for the Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE), among other roles.

“During my 45-year career in public education, I have served in administrative roles in three county offices of education and five school districts, four of those districts in Mendocino County,” Dickinson said. “I have also worked with the California Department of Education. During my three years with CDE, I helped to develop and provide professional development programs for teachers, administrators, classified staff and parents in an eight-county region in Northern California. The only break in employment during my career was when I enrolled in a residential doctoral program at the University of Oregon.”

Dickinson began consulting in 2011 after retiring from MCOE, using his expertise in professional and program development, special education, educational rules and regulations and leadership to assist Ukiah Unified School District, School and College Legal Services and MCOE.

Most recently, he served as interim superintendent for Leggett Valley Unified School District in 2014-15 and for Potter Valley Community Unified School District from 2015 through January 2018.