San Dieguito Union High School District trustees approved an interim superintendent on a quick turnaround after the departure this week of its leader of nearly three years.

Trustees named Lucile Lynch as interim superintendent during a special board meeting Thursday, April 29, according to a district announcement. Her hiring is subject to the approval of an employment agreement in May.

Lynch replaces Robert Haley, who resigned this week after nearly three years on the job. The search for a permanent replacement for Haley is now underway, the district stated.

The Board of Trustees reviewed 14 applications and held eight interviews in its search for an interim leader.

“In this unusual time of transition, the Board recognizes the need for consistency and stability for our teachers, staff, and most importantly, our students,” the district stated in its announcement.

In announcing Lynch’s appointment, officials noted her long ties to the community and local education.

“Ms. Lynch has lived in the district for the entire duration of her children’s educational careers,” the district stated in its announcement. “Her two sons are proud graduates of Oak Crest Middle School and La Costa Canyon High School, where she volunteered in a variety of capacities.”

Oak Crest and La Costa are campuses in the San Dieguito district, which cover Encinitas, parts of Carlsbad and San Marcos, south through Solana Beach, Del Mar and Carmel Valley, and Rancho Santa Fe.

Lynch is a former assistant district attorney who co-founded the nonprofit Beacons Inc., the district stated.

On its website, the organization explains that its mission is to “provide vocational, recreational, and social activities as well as services to adults with developmental disabilities and their support teams to create pathways and outcomes to improve access to employment, the community and social connections.”

In an interview with SDVoyager in 2020, Lynch explained her impetus for creating Beacons with her co-founders.

“As a parent of boys with disabilities, the nearly 86% unemployment rate in San Diego County for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities was something I wanted to change,” she told SDVoyager. “I, along with my co-founders Mary Backer, Karin Barrows and Janet Schenker launched Beacons, Inc. to provide vocational workshops that use assistive technology and hands-on learning experiences to teach actual workforce skills needed for local entry-level jobs.”

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