PHOENIX — Thea Andrade will be the Phoenix Union High School District's new superintendent. Andrade is the first woman to hold the position in the district's nearly 130-year history.
Andrade was selected unanimously by the PXU governing board March 5. Before being named superintendent, Andrade served as the interim superintendent during the 2023-24 school year. Before that, she was PXU's Chief Achievement Officer since 2019.
In her role as CAO, Andrade led the Safety, Student & Family Services and Teaching & Learning divisions. She started her career at PXU in 2011, serving as the director of assessment & Accountability and also as the Executive Director for Technology & Innovation.
Andrade was also a math teacher, teaching middle and high school algebra.
"I want to thank the PXU staff, community, and Governing Board for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as your next Superintendent," Andrade said in a news release. "Our shared commitment to student success, academic excellence, and changing lives is why I love our community so much."
The search process for a new superintendent began in November of 2023. Former superintendent Dr. Chad Geston left PXU in March of 2023, after serving in the position for eight years.
Andrade's selection depends on negotiating an employment contract and the PXU Governing Board's acceptance of an independent background check report. Because Andrade already serves as the interim superintendent, she will start officially following the negotiations with the governing board, according to a news release.
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