MICHAEL W. CASTON

• Mike served as Superintendent of Schools for the Escondido Union School District in San Diego County until June of 2006.
   
• He also served as Superintendent of the Santa Barbara High School District, Santa Barbara Elementary School District, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District and the Charter Oak Unified School District. Mike served a total of 22 years as a California Superintendent.
   
• Mike was the 2005 AASA California Superintendent of the Year. He was also honored as the 2008 Superintendent of the Year by the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education.
   
• Mike has held positions of Assistant Superintendent, Principal, Teacher and Coach. In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member at California State University, San Marcos.
   
• Mike received his masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California and his bachelor of science degree at Northern Arizona University.
   
• Mike's 1980 doctoral dissertation, Communication Techniques Used by Superintendents with the Governing Board, has been replicated several times and serves as a guide for many current superintendents.
   
• Mike has served as the Chamber of Commerce President in Santa Barbara, Palos Verdes and Covina California. He also served on the board of directors for Saint Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara. Mike was named as the Chief Executive Officer for the Gevirtz Research Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara and held that volunteer position for six years.
   
• Mike is married and has three children and two grandchildren. The Castons live in Escondido California.