Education Crisis After Paradise Fire

Mary (von Rotz) Sakuma has served in public education for more than 28 years, during which she has served as a classroom teacher, school site principal, and district superintendent before joining the team Butte County Office of Education (BCOE). For the four and a half years prior to her assuming her current role, she served as Assistant Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent for BCOE.  Mary was sworn in as Butte County Superintendent of Schools in January, and she is the first woman elected to the position.  Mary and her husband John are residents of Chico.

Mary Sakuma has spent her entire professional career in service to students and families of the north state.  Sakuma was Superintendent of Durham Unified School District from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, Sakuma served for four years as Superintendent/Principal of Junction Elementary School District in Palo Cedro (Shasta County).  During that time she was recognized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as Superintendent/Principal of the Year, 2010, for California.

Sakuma earned her B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, her teaching credential at CSU, Chico, and her M.A. in Education as well as her Administrative Services Credential from Simpson College / University.