Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Applauds Statewide Award Recipients from Local Districts
RIVERSIDE – Two Riverside County public education leaders who are driving student success and educational excellence in local school districts were recently named as 2026 Administrators of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).
ACSA announced its selections for 2026 statewide awards this month—including the following from Riverside County:
Superintendent of the Year
Jennifer Root, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Menifee Union School District
Over the past six years of her leadership, Dr. Jennifer Root has been defined by measurable excellence, including a transformative surge in student attendance, the cultivation of a rigorous culture of high expectations for every learner, and movement toward district-wide TK-8 pathways.
Central Office Administrator of the Year
Kyley Ybarra
Assistant Superintendent of Personnel, Riverside Unified School District
Since 2016, Ybarra has served as Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Leadership and Development and lead negotiator–roles that build on her 30 years in the district, where she has also served as an elementary and secondary principal, counselor, instructional coach, and teacher.
“Congratulations to Dr. Root and Ms. Ybarra for receiving this statewide recognition as examples of the extraordinary leaders serving Riverside County students. These educators are committed to elevating student success, and their work is deservedly getting noticed,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Achieving the state-leading graduation rate of 92.3% in Riverside County is only possible when all educators are committed to learning and leading each day with excellence.”
Both honorees will be recognized at ACSA’s 2026 Leadership Summit, a statewide gathering for mission-driven leaders to learn, collaborate, and elevate what's possible for students and communities, at the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center in Chula Vista, California, November 4-7, 2026.
About the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
The Association of California School Administrators is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the United States, serving more than 18,000 California educators. ACSA is the only association in the nation that encompasses the broad spectrum of the management/leadership team. The organization serves school administrators in 19 regions throughout California, each made up of local charters.
About the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts and 500+ schools that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts and charter schools, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant, and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support, and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators, and staff, throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more at www.rcoe.us.