Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) faces many challenges. To solve these challenges will require exceptional leadership. From observing the last year of school board meetings and the associated public record, it is clear that exceptional leadership is not currently being demonstrated by Interim Superintendent Stacey McAfee-Yao and the CUSD board. In particular, continued lack of clear communication and multiple lost opportunities to create specific and timely plans to guide the CUSD organization are two areas of needed growth before confirmation of Mrs. Yao would be appropriate. 

The CUSD board should not confirm Stacey McAfee-Yao as superintendent at this time.  Instead, the CUSD board should allow Mrs. Yao to continue as interim superintendent until some time in the future. If Mrs. Yao can grow as a leader and demonstrate the exceptional leadership qualities that CUSD badly needs, then she should be considered for confirmation as superintendent at that time.  Mrs. Yao deserves the opportunity to be celebrated for her full potential as a leader if she is confirmed as superintendent, and that time has not yet come.

Thank you,

Concerned CUSD community members. February 2021.