Pittsburg Unified School District appoints new superintendent

PITTSBURG — Sonjhia Lowery, an educator with over 31 years of experience, will be the next Pittsburg Unified School District superintendent.

Lowery, who has held various leadership roles in education, will be taking over for Superintendent Janet Schulze starting July 1.

Schulze, superintendent since 2014, announced in a district newsletter in March that she would remain in the position through the summer to support the transition and help prepare for the upcoming school year.

After months of an extensive search conducted in partnership with Leadership Associates, Lowery was chosen from a pool of over 30 applicants.

“Ultimately, Ms. Lowery stood out as the right person to guide the district into its next chapter,” the district said in a statement Wednesday.

According to the district, Lowery was the superintendent of Old Adobe Union School District in Sonoma County, where she guided the district through challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic “while maintaining a strong focus” on student learning, staff support, and community engagement.

Prior to that, she was an assistant superintendent of Educational Services at Stockton Unified School District. Lowery has also served as the director of Learning Support Services in Elk Grove Unified School District.

“She also serves on several state and national boards focused on educational excellence, leadership development, and equity,” said Pittsburg school district.

Lowery was named Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators Region 3 in 2018. A year later, she received the Outstanding Leadership in Education Award from the California Association of African American School Administrators.

She earned a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in educational management. She is currently working toward her doctorate at the University of the Pacific, said the school district.