UPDATE: Governing board approves contract for Tim Brienza for superintendent role
The Yuma Union High School District Governing Board, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, voted unanimously to enter contract negotiations with Tim Brienza for the position of district Superintendent.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, Brienza's contract, for 2023 through 2026, was unanimously approved and signed. He will begin his role on June 2, 2023.
Brienza, who has worked in the district since 1996, has most recently served as an associate superintendent after working as a principal, assistant principal, coach, and teacher within YUHSD.
“I want to be a part of every student’s success,” said Brienza, who comes from a family of educators. “I feel that we have amazing teams here in our district. I’ve visited a lot of different districts over the last few years and I wouldn’t trade it for the world for what we have here. Our students are amazing. That’s why I want to be superintendent because I feel with my energy, my drive, and my experiences, I can help with the next iteration of making sure that every stakeholder is involved in a student’s life, pushing them towards excellence.”
The superintendent position opened when current superintendent Gina Thompson announced her retirement in September. Thompson’s retirement is effective June 2, 2023.
Brienza, who moved into a district administrative role under Thompson in 2018, spent a majority of his two-and-a-half decades in YUHSD at Cibola High School. He began his career in education in 1996, moving to Yuma from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Marquette University.
Since arriving, Brienza has been involved in various leadership roles and had a hand in several areas of district business, ranging from campus teacher and leadership development and academic curriculum to extra-curricular activities, athletics, and school safety.
“The board is excited to enter into negotiations with Mr. Brienza for a contract to be the next superintendent,” YUHSD Governing Board President Phil Townsend said. “We think he will continue to build upon the great things we are doing in Yuma Union High School District and have great confidence in him. We are also very happy to know that we have leaders of this quality within our district as we continue to develop and grow our own.”