Monterey COE Superintendent Dr. Guss not seeking re-election

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) - The Monterey County Office of Education announced that the superintendent of schools will not be seeking re-election once her term ends.

For over 40 years, Superintendent Dr. Deneen Guss has had a career in education.

"Ten years as a teacher and the other 30 years as an administrator, either at the site district or county level," Dr. Guss said.

Now, she says the time has come for her to retire and spend more time with her family.

"Now, I'm a grandmother as three grand babies who are waiting for their grandmother to be able to teach them how to read and prepare them for school," said Dr. Guss

Guss has been the county's superintendent for the last six years.

In recent months, she has outwardly pushed back against recent federal budget cuts to public education and said that the county needs to continue to fight.

She said she believes it is time for someone new and fresh to step into her role

"My advice for the next person is to please serve with that same level of passion and commitment and be willing to step up and fight for public education," Dr. Guss said. "If we don't fight for our kids, who will?

Suzette Eliopoulos is a parent in the county who also hopes the next superintendent stands up for the children.

"There was a lot of talk about the government taking away special education programs and worried about IEP programs and special education resources, and making sure that those stay strong," Eliopoulos said. "It's scary. I'm worried about my kid and his education. That's the most important thing. It was one of the most important things."

After Guss announced that she would be retiring after this term, Congressman Jimmy Panetta said in a statement to KION News:

"Her impact on public education in our community will be felt for years to come. I thank Dr. Guss for her decades of service and commitment to our students, and I wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

Dr. Guss said that she is thankful to the community and that it has been her honor to serve

She also said that she is ready and excited to spend more time with her family as it continues to grow.

The next election cycle will occur in 2027.