Jodee Brentlinger
Solana Beach School District, Superintendent
Jodee Brentlinger is the superintendent of the Solana Beach School District, a K-6 district located in Northern San Diego County. Ms. Brentlinger’s career has spanned 35 years in K-12 education and leadership development. Her journey began as a 6 th grade middle school teacher in the Capistrano Unified School District and has included leadership positions in four districts (Capistrano, Orange, Ocean View, and Solana Beach). Over 35 years, she has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, executive director, and in two assistant superintendent positions (Education Division and Personnel Services). In July 2018, she was appointed superintendent.
As the sitting superintendent in Solana Beach, Ms. Brentlinger has focused efforts around students; their voice, talents, wonder and discovery. This was targeted through a refreshed district mission and vision, rebranding the District’s logo, and adopting a student promotion profile in which students used their voice and talents to create the posters that will be visually present through the schools and district office. And most notably, due to an intentional focus on “spreading the good news,” Ms. Brentlinger has promoted a positive district narrative that also focuses on students. These include press releases, a monthly Spotlight on Student message, student videos, and social media posts. And the team
responsible for developing and implementing our work focused on students has resulted in numerous regional ACSA and CSBA awards for administrators, school board members, and community partners.
Most importantly, Ms. Brentlinger believes whole-heartedly in being a visible, accessible, and approachable leader. Throughout her experiences as a district office leader, she has always maintained a dedicated site visit day within her weekly schedule. Teachers and staff have come to expect and appreciate these visits as they provide employees and Ms. Brentlinger a first-hand, personal experience of the great teaching and learning occurring regularly. Most notable is that due to taped weekly read alouds by Mrs. Brentlinger during the pandemic, now whenever Ms. Brentlinger visits classrooms, students greet her by name; and when she is out in the community, students wave knowing not only that she is the superintendent, but better yet, she is a lover of reading and sharing children’s stories.