On Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) announced the appointment of Dr. Ben Churchill as the new superintendent. The Board of Education’s decision was approved after five months without a permanent superintendent, a consequence of Marian Kim Phelps’ removal from the position due to her alleged harassment of students.

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In November 2023, Phelps faced scrutiny surrounding her alleged misconduct; students from Del Norte High School’s softball team reported that Phelps had threatened their athletic participation and graduation privileges due to their alleged lackluster support for Phelps’ daughter at a banquet. In subsequent months, PUSD launched an investigation that uncovered 41 witness reports, culminating in her removal in a unanimous no-confidence vote in April.

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During the investigation, the Board of Education instated Greg Mizel as the interim superintendent until a new superintendent was appointed. In June, trustees from the Board received parent feedback and interviewed 46 candidates for the role. Finally, the Board selected Churchill, the current superintendent for the Carlsbad Unified School District.

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“In a field of exceptional candidates, Dr. Churchill’s extensive experience, his approachable demeanor, and innovative vision for moving this district forward really stood out,” PUSD Board President Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff said.

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An educator for 28 years, Churchill’s early experiences in teaching were in China, where he taught English. In addition, he worked as a high school teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent for a school district in Illinois. He served as the chief academic officer for a continuation school in his final years in the Midwest before serving as superintendent for the Carlsbad Unified School District for eight years. 

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In a press conference following his term’s announcement, Churchill details his plan to restore trust and communication between community members and the district administration.

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“Building relationships and trust will absolutely be job one. I think the best way for me to build that trust is to be present and visible,” Churchill said. “Trust takes time to build, and so my commitment is to put in the time to meet with folks, get to know them, get to know the great things about Poway and the challenges.”

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In particular, Churchill aims to promote funding for the various facilities in PUSD and to satisfy the needs of PUSD families—goals indicative of his progressive initiatives. 

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During his term in the Carlsbad Unified School District, Churchill spearheaded efforts to implement environmentally friendly education in Carlsbad’s campuses. In 2023, he also voted to include an ethnic film course that involved critical race theory in the Carlsbad High School curriculum.

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Overall, Churchill’s emerging presence in PUSD signifies a promising future for the district as well as an opportunity for parents, students, and teachers to be adequately represented in the wake of turmoil and controversy. He is expected to assume the superintendent position on Dec. 2, 2024.

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