Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Professional References
Conferences
Timeline
Generic

Don Scatena

831 Columbia Drive ,California

Summary

Experienced educational leader specializing in crisis management and strategic communication. Led implementation of MTSS, improved student support services, and fostered community partnerships while ensuring compliance with California Education Code. Mentored educators and drove data-driven decision-making to enhance student outcomes.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience

Work History

Deputy Superintendent

Burlingame School District
Burlingame, California
12.2024 - Current
  • Acted as a member of the Superintendent’s Executive Cabinet, providing districtwide strategic leadership and operational oversight for Special Education, Student Support Services, Wellness, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
  • Led districtwide implementation of MTSS and social-emotional learning initiatives, establishing early identification systems and tiered interventions to foster improved student outcomes.
  • Directed comprehensive student support programs, enhancing access to special education, behavioral services, mental health support, and family partnerships.
  • Coordinated interagency partnerships with the San Mateo County Office of Education, SELPA, and community providers to strengthen student and family support services.
  • Ensured full compliance with federal and state regulations governing Special Education, Section 504, due process, student discipline, and civil rights requirements.
  • Supervised the IEP process districtwide, including identification, assessment, placement, mediation, and due-process coordination with legal counsel.
  • Developed and delivered professional learning programs for administrators, teachers, and support staff focused on inclusion, behavior intervention, trauma-informed practices, and compliance.
  • Acted as district spokesperson for Student Support Services, presenting to the Board of Education, community groups, and public agencies on program outcomes and strategic initiatives.
  • Led Human Resources functions for supervising recruitment, hiring, evaluation, and professional development of certificated and classified staff.
  • Supervised and evaluated department administrators and staff in alignment with California Standards for the Teaching Profession and collective bargaining agreements, ensuring high performance and compliance.
  • Provided executive leadership for district technology systems related to student services, including IEP management platforms, personnel databases, absence management software, secure file-sharing tools, and digital workflow automation systems.
  • Partnered with district technology leadership to modernize data systems, improve reporting accuracy, and streamline service delivery through integrated software solutions and digital records management.
  • Oversaw departmental budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation for Special Education and Student Support Services, ensuring fiscal accountability and alignment with district goals.
  • Led crisis response protocols and coordinated suicide prevention, bullying prevention, and student wellness initiatives.
  • Implemented technology-driven data collection systems to monitor attendance, behavior, service delivery, and program effectiveness.
  • Regularly visited school sites to evaluate program implementation, provide coaching to administrators, and ensure equitable, high-quality services for all students.
  • Oversaw enrollment processes, residency verification, attendance intervention (SART/SARB), and independent study/home-hospital instruction programs.

Director of Student Services and Principal of Middle College

SMUHSD (ADA 9,500)
07.2015 - 11.2024

Coordinated and monitored instructional programs to ensure equitable access for all students.

  • Led board presentations and data meetings to analyze academic achievement and inform intervention strategies.
  • Managed enrollment processes, attendance, discipline issues, and wellness initiatives, including Independent Study Program and summer school, to support student success.
  • Oversaw Title IX compliance and served as Uniform Complaint Coordinator addressing student grievances.
  • Administered $2.2 million CDE Learning Communities grant to tackle attendance challenges across districts.
  • Mentored and evaluated educators and administrators to strengthen professional development and improve instructional performance.
  • Supervised transition support for 8th grade students and families entering high school.
  • Participated in various district committees focused on safety, wellness, and educational initiatives.

Assistant Principal 

Mills High School SMUHSD
07.2014 - 06.2015
  • Managed curriculum and instruction, ensuring compliance with state testing standards.
  • Oversaw Advanced Placement testing processes to enhance student performance.
  • Supervised guidance department, enhancing support for students' social, emotional, and academic needs.
  • Coordinated athletics and extracurricular activities, boosting student engagement and participation.
  • Administered maintenance and operations, ensuring optimal functionality of department services.

Principal 

Peninsula High School SMUHSD
11.2009 - 06.2014
  • Led collaborative planning and school improvement initiatives that enhanced inquiry cycles.
  • Monitored and evaluated educational programs to uphold performance standards and drive program effectiveness.
  • Led faculty meetings to align on educational goals and initiatives.
  • Developed curriculum standards to enhance student learning and engagement.
  • Oversaw daily operations of school activities and resources management.

Assistant Principal of Instruction

San Mateo High School
07.2007 - 11.2009
  • Collaborated with teachers to create curriculum and instructional strategies aligned with student needs.
  • Mentored teachers to enhance leadership skills and improve teaching effectiveness.
  • Managed school administration operations, organizing teacher schedules, student registration, and class orientation to streamline processes.
  • Acted as a liaison between the school administration and community groups or organizations.

Assistant Principal of Administrative Services

El Camino High SSFUSD
07.2004 - 07.2007

Principal (Summer School)

South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD)
06.2005 - 07.2005

Teacher

Terra Nova High School (JUHSD)
08.2000 - 06.2004

Teacher

Baden High School SSFUSD 
08.1999 - 06.2000

Education

Certification - Human Resources Training

ACSA Academy - Personnel
Vitrtual
06-2025

Superintendent's Academy Certification -

Association of California School Administrators
Santa Clara
05.2023

Stanford Certified Education Leader - Education Administration

Stanford Graduate School of Education, EdLeaders 
Palo Alto, CA
06.2021

Master of Arts - Education Administration

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
05.2004

Credential - Social Sciences

San Francisco State University , Single Subject Credential in Social Sciences
San Francisco, CA
06.2022

Bachelor of Arts - History

San Francisco State University , BA History
San Francisco, CA
05.1998

Skills

  • Crisis management
  • Public relations
  • Education Code compliance
  • Title IX compliance
  • Section 504 compliance
  • MTSS implementation
  • School safety planning
  • Community engagement
  • Long-term planning
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Behavioral intervention leadership
  • Mental health management
  • Social-emotional learning
  • Instructional technology integration
  • Information system management
  • Professional development
  • Academic intervention

Professional References

Dr. Marla Silversmith, Superintendent, Burlingame School District 

Randall Booker, Superintendent, SMUHSD

Dr. Kevin Skelly, retired Superintendent, SMUHSD

Nancy Magee, County Superintendent, SMCOE

Dr. Kirk Black, Deputy Superintendent, Human Resources and Student Services, SMUHSD

Dan Devoy, former Trustee, Burlingame School District 

Linda Lees Dwyer, former Trustee, SMUHSD

Robert Griffin, Trustee, SMUHSD

Peter Hanley, retired Trustee, SMUHSD

April Torres, Director Mental Health, SMUHSD

Craig Childress, CTA Union President, SMUHSD

Conferences

PowerSchool Edge and University, 2025-2026

Supporting Innovative Practices (SIP), 2025

Universal Design Training, 2025-2026

EPOCH Education: Excellence through Equity Seminar, 2019

Supporting Vulnerable Students: Strengthening Resiliency , SMCOE, 2016-2019

Constructing Meaning Training and Implementation, 2014-2016

California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance (CASCWA),  2015-2019 

Middle College National Consortium (MCNC) Conference, 2016-2018           

Aeries State Conference 2008, 2014-2017 http://www.aeries.com/conference

California Coalition of Early and Middle Colleges (CCEMC), 2015-2017 http://ccemc.org/

ACSA Leadership Symposium for Technology, 2012-2015 http://www.lead3.org/

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY), 2017 

Common Core Training at SMCOE 2012-2015

Leading Edge Certification (LEC), 2014  

Learning Forward, 2012-2014 

Master Scheduling Workshop 2007-08, 2014

Career Technical Education State Conference,  2010-2012  

Inclusion Network, SMCOE 2012

Google Educator Training 2009 & 2012 

ACSA Every Child Counts 2007-09                                               

Timeline

Deputy Superintendent

Burlingame School District
12.2024 - Current

Director of Student Services and Principal of Middle College

SMUHSD (ADA 9,500)
07.2015 - 11.2024

Assistant Principal 

Mills High School SMUHSD
07.2014 - 06.2015

Principal 

Peninsula High School SMUHSD
11.2009 - 06.2014

Assistant Principal of Instruction

San Mateo High School
07.2007 - 11.2009

Principal (Summer School)

South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD)
06.2005 - 07.2005

Assistant Principal of Administrative Services

El Camino High SSFUSD
07.2004 - 07.2007

Teacher

Terra Nova High School (JUHSD)
08.2000 - 06.2004

Teacher

Baden High School SSFUSD 
08.1999 - 06.2000

Certification - Human Resources Training

ACSA Academy - Personnel

Superintendent's Academy Certification -

Association of California School Administrators

Stanford Certified Education Leader - Education Administration

Stanford Graduate School of Education, EdLeaders 

Master of Arts - Education Administration

San Francisco State University

Credential - Social Sciences

San Francisco State University , Single Subject Credential in Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts - History

San Francisco State University , BA History
Don Scatena