County Superintendent
Dr. Carl Wong became the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools in 2002. In this elected position, he provides countywide leadership for the K-12 public school system, which is comprised of 40 school districts with a combined student population of 71,000 students.
Role and Responsibilities
The two primary responsibilities of the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools are to 1) provide leadership, support, and fiscal oversight to all school districts in the county and 2) act as the chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE).
As described in state education code, the elected County Superintendent of Schools is a constitutional officer who serves as an intermediary between local school districts and the state. The mandatory responsibilities of the position are to provide fiscal oversight of school district budgets and to serve as the appellate agent to local district decisions. In addition, the County Superintendent develops programs and services to meet needs identified by local districts.
Major Responsibilities
- Work with the Sonoma County Board of Education to establish the direction and priorities for SCOE
- Act as SCOE’s chief operating officer and provide management oversight of its operations
- Provide community leadership to promote quality K-12 education for all students in Sonoma County
About Dr. Carl Wong
Carl Wong is a first generation Chinese-American. His mother was born in Shanghai and his father’s family came from the southern provinces of China. As a young boy, he lived in the federal housing projects in Vallejo, where his father was employed at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Prior to starting kindergarten, Dr. Wong was bilingual in Mandarin and Cantonese. Although he now speaks only English fluently, he has maintained a passion for authentic Chinese food.
Carl Wong recalls enjoying junior high and high school, but readily admits he was a less than stellar academic student. Upon graduation from Napa High School in 1965, he took the civil service exam and served a four-year apprenticeship as a machinist at the Mare Island Shipyard, becoming a journeyman machinist in 1969. He completed his lower division coursework at night school through Napa Community College, then transferred to Chico State University to major in industrial technology.
Dr. Wong received his teaching credential and master’s degree in 1972 and began his career in education as an industrial arts teacher at Helix High School in San Diego County’s Grossmont Union High School District. During his 25-year tenure with the Grossmont district, he served as a high school teacher, guidance counselor, ROP coordinator, continuation school principal, high school principal, and assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. During this time, he earned his doctoral degree in education from Northern Arizona University.
In 1997, Carl Wong returned to Northern California to become superintendent of Petaluma City Schools, the second largest school district in Sonoma County. He held this position until 2002, when he was elected Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools. He is now in his second term as County Superintendent. When his term of office ends on December 31, 2010, Dr. Wong plans to retire.
Carl Wong is a Board of Supervisors' appointee to the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board. He serves on the Sonoma County Youth Education and Employment Council, United Way of the Wine Country board of directors, and Santa Rosa Mayor's Gang Task Force. He is an active community speaker, a strong supporter of the arts, and an advocate for children of all ethnic backgrounds.
Dr. Wong resides in Petaluma with his wife Vivien.
Contact
- Maureen Wallace, Executive Secretary
(707) 524-2603, - Carl Wong, Ed.D., Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools
(707) 524-2603,