The Dublin Unified School District started off the 2019-2020 school year with a new interim superintendent, Dr. Dave Marken. Dr. Marken has been appointed to this position until the spring of 2021, when he will return to retirement and the district will appoint a new long-term superintendent to replace Dr. Leslie Boozer following her departure last year. While new to this position,  Dr. Marken is no stranger to the Dublin community. Not only has he previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and Human Resources for the district, but he also used to be the principal of Dublin High. 

Outside of his career in Dublin, Dr. Marken has also taught at schools in Richmond, Daly City, and San Francisco. He noted that he was drawn to education by “a desire that [he has had] for a long time to make a difference,” and he felt that “working with young people could give [him] that opportunity.” He wasn’t always aiming for an administrative spot—rather than being a calculated career trajectory, his climb from classroom teacher to assistant principal, principal, and eventually superintendent of the Newark Unified School District “seemed to happen organically.” 

When asked about how his most recent position as the superintendent of the Newark Unified School District might compare to being at the helm of Dublin Unified, Dr. Marken responded that he doesn’t see any staggering differences between the student body of the two areas. Instead, he stated optimistically that “students are students. Same desires, same issues, [and] same amazing qualities.” One distinction that he noted, however, was that declining enrollment in Newark led to issues with lay-offs and reductions, whereas Dublin’s most challenging issues involve the complete opposite, with rapid growth that is “some of the highest in the state and the country.”

Regarding issues of student interest, Dr. Marken acknowledged that one of the most prominent issues the district is facing at the moment is the rapid growth of Dublin and the need for solutions that will allow the district to “accommodate excellence for all our students.” Another common issue talked about among students is environmental sustainability—when asked about his opinions on making our schools more sustainable, Dr. Marken stated that the district is currently investigating solar options as well as water and electrical saving methods.

Until Dr. Marken returns to his retirement and DUSD has a long-term superintendent in place for the 2021-22 school year and beyond, it’s clear that students will benefit from his dedication to this community.