Surprise choice appointed superintendent in San Diego district

Barely 24 hours after Bill Kowba announced his resignation as superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, the school board surprised the community by naming an elementary school principal to replace him. The San Diego Union-Tribune says the board has decided to promote Cindy Marten from principal of Central Elementary School to superintendent of California's second largest school district. It’s highly unusual for a large urban school district to hire a superintendent so quickly and without community input. Board President John Lee Evans acknowledges that Marten is an unlikely appointment given her slim administrative experience, but he says the district needs a proven and passionate educator to take the helm.