Rene Townsend, Ed.D., Emeritus Partner

Rene S. Townsend, a former managing partner of Leadership Associates, worked with new and experienced superintendents, and board-superintendent teams on governance, teamwork, and the superintendent’s evaluation.

Previously, Rene was Director Education Outreach for Price Charities, focusing on urban education and philanthropic work with schools in Central America. Rene served as Superintendent of Schools for Coronado Unified School District. She also served as Superintendent of the Vista Unified School District.

Previously she served students as teacher, principal, and associate superintendent. She received her B.A. from the University of Washington, her Master’s from San Diego State University, and her Doctorate from Northern Arizona University. Rene chaired the ACSA State Superintendency Committee, the annual California State Superintendents’ Symposium, and the Superintendent’sCommittee for San Diego and Imperial Counties. She is on the national boards of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), ESR (Educators for Social Responsibility) and UED (Urban Education Dialog).

She received the Robert F. Alioto Award for California for Instructional Leadership, 74th Assembly District Woman of the Year, San Diego Mediation Center Peacemaker, California Interscholastic Federation Contributions, and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society.

Rene co-authored A Practical Guide to Effective School Board Meetings with Leadership Associates partners Walt Buster and Jim Brown. With other colleague superintendents, Rene co-authored Eight at the Top and Effective Superintendent-School Board Practices.