SF picks ex-Oakland administrator as schools superintendent

Vincent Matthews, right, when he was head of the Edison Charter Academy in San Francisco with 7-year-old Guy Gluver. Vincent Matthews, right, when he was head of the Edison Charter Academy in San Francisco with 7-year-old Guy Gluver. Photo: ERIC LUSE, SFC Photo: ERIC LUSE, SFC Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close SF picks ex-Oakland administrator as schools superintendent 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The San Francisco school board Wednesday selected a city native with an eclectic educational background to lead the district, saying Vincent Matthews has the experience and leadership skills to take on the role of superintendent.

Matthews didn’t take a traditional route to the top job. He trained for administrative roles at an academy run by a prominent supporter of charter schools and once ran a for-profit charter school in San Francisco.

After Oakland lost local control of its school district when the state gave it a $100 million bailout, Matthews oversaw district operations as state administrator from 2007 to 2009. For the past 18 months, he has served a similar role at the Inglewood Unified School District near Los Angeles. He is also a former superintendent of the San Jose Unified School District.

“We chose someone with a wealth of instructional experience, leadership experience and intricate knowledge of SFUSD,” said school board President Shamann Walton. “We searched for a superintendent that would be dedicated to SFUSD and its students for the long haul.”

Walton noted that Matthews was “born in San Francisco, went to preschool, elementary, junior high, high school and university right here in San Francisco.”

The board selected Matthews over interim Superintendent Myong Leigh, who opted to be a candidate after initially saying he didn’t want the permanent role.

“Having been a student in the district, I believe I owe so much to the staff members, educators and caring adults who delivered a high-quality, rigorous education to me,” Matthews said in a statement. “I look forward to working with our current staff to provide each and every student the quality instruction and equitable support required to thrive in the 21st century.”

Matthews graduated from the now-closed McAteer High School in San Francisco and earned his bachelor’s degree, teaching credential and doctorate in education from San Francisco State University. He started his teaching career 30 years ago at Carver Elementary School in the Bayview and later served as principal at Alvarado Elementary School in Noe Valley.

In the early 2000s, Matthews served as the principal of the Edison Charter Academy in San Francisco, a controversial public, for-profit school and a vice president for the charter-operator Edison Schools.

Matthews defended the school in 2001 against accusations that disadvantaged students were being pushed out to bolster test scores. The San Francisco school board investigated and found the school discriminated against black students and transferred special education students. The school was put on notice and ordered to correct the issues.

Matthews is also an alumnus of the Broad Center, a training ground for superintendents that was founded by Eli Broad, a charter-school supporter.

In Oakland, Matthews was the last of three state administrators to oversee the district after a $100 million bailout loan triggered a state takeover.

He was a “brass tacks” kind of leader, said former Oakland school board member David Kakishiba.

“He was a good listener, and he was clear about what needed to be done,” he said. “He was very focused on getting work done.”

Union officials in San Francisco said they didn’t know Matthews, but appreciated his level of experience. He will inherit contract negotiations and a teacher affordability crisis, said Susan Solomon, vice president of the United Educators of San Francisco.

“We definitely want to welcome him and are looking forward to working with him,” she said.

The school board did a national search for a superintendent after Richard Carranza left the job last fall to lead the Houston school system. Matthews was among 27 applicants for the position.

The school board is expected to vote on Matthews’ contract, including his salary, Tuesday.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @jilltucker