Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Superintendent Dr. Greg Plutko has announced he’ll retire from the district in December.
Plutko, who was selected as PYLUSD’s schools chief in 2016, shared the news with staff and families via email on Thursday, Sept. 3. His departure caps a 35-year career in education.
“Having the opportunity to serve in this very special profession of education has been and continues to be the most rewarding journey,” he wrote. “Although I still experience so much joy in my work, I find myself needing to place a more dedicated focus on health challenges in my own life as well as those in my family.”
District officials say Plutko has worked closely with the school board to improve academic performance, strengthen the district’s fiscal health and expand professional development opportunities.
He’s credited with implementing a district-wide full-day kindergarten program, reducing the community general obligation bond tax bill by millions of dollars and creating professional development academies for instructional leaders, teachers and classified staff.
“I want to thank our Board of Education, under the guidance of President Eric Padget, for their leadership, passion for education, and trust in my service on behalf of PYLUSD,” Plutko said. “Although we are being tested with the current global challenges of today, I could not be more proud of our school district and its engaged employees, as well as our dedicated community support that shines brightly across Orange County and beyond.”
The board will immediately begin the process of searching for the district’s next superintendent. You can read more about Plutko’s announcement and the district’s plans on the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified website.