It’s not every day when your leader wins a lifetime achievement award from her professional association. That’s why we have elected to convert this month’s Orcutt Union School District update into a profile of our superintendent, Dr. Holly Edds, and her noteworthy work as an educator.

          On November 7, Dr. Edds received the Ferd Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor conferred by the Association of School Administrators (ACSA), a 17,000-member organization that is our country’s largest umbrella organization for educational leaders. 

         “The Ferd Kiesel Award recognizes someone for a lifetime of achievement in education,” explains Leslie Wagonseller, ACSA regional president as well as our district’s executive director of technology and educational services. “ACSA is looking for someone who does not just influence a school system but who has made an impact on K-12 education statewide.”

            We who work with Dr. Edds believe she is very deserving. She has been with our district since 2004 and served as district superintendent since 2020. Prior to ascending to the top position she was Joe Nightingale School’s principal and then our district’s assistant superintendent of educational services.

            Throughout her 22 years in Orcutt, Dr. Edds has been an impactful advocate for students. During her superintendency, the district has adopted a new strategic plan that emphasizes a caring, inclusive environment for students, innovative practices, and a strong connection with community. Additionally, she has prioritized mental health and behavioral support systems for students, career pathway programming, and emergency preparedness. 

            “Holly’s true passion is students, and she is always looking to the future on the district’s behalf,” says Liz Phillips, president of Orcutt’s board of trustees. “She has exceeded all the expectations the board gave her when we hired her.”

            Meanwhile, Dr. Edds has made significant contributions to her profession.

            In 2018-2019 she served as president of ACSA, and in this capacity she led a mental health and social-emotional learning task force that produced the ACSA Mental Wellness Toolkit – a comprehensive resource for schools and school systems. She also has been a state leader in introducing Emory University’s Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning curriculum, which has been adopted in Orcutt schools.

            Here in the Orcutt/Santa Maria are, Dr. Edds is equally engaged. She is part of the community board of Marian Regional Medical Center and is heavily involved with Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, Shoes for Students, and the Orcutt Children’s Arts Foundation. One of her signature projects has been to take the OUSD Management Team on visits to community sites that highlight industries, programs, and services important for students and families. Destinations have ranged from a local strawberry field to the SpaceX launch facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

            In all endeavors, Dr. Edds acts on her belief that good leaders create new leaders. As an educator and in her role as a Cal Poly and Cal Lutheran instructor for aspiring school administrators, she has mentored dozens of people into becoming school or district leaders.

            “When I was her vice-principal, Holly was very focused on training me and giving me the experiences I would need to succeed as a principal,” says Joe Nightingale School Principal Kate McInerney, who assisted Dr. Edds at Joe Nightingale. “Even now, when I have questions, I always feel like Holly has my back and I can ask her for advice.”

            Talk to Dr. Edds about this award, and she makes it about her team more than an individual accomplishment. In keeping with this, she over the years has initiated numerous individual and group recognitions for district employees. Notably, she introduced the #WeAreOrcutt Award to recognize colleagues whose work embodies the student centered spirit of the school district.

            “This district is full of dedicated professionals who make a difference in the lives of students,” she says. “I’m just honored to work alongside all of them.”

            Here’s congratulating our humble superintendent on an important professional honor. In a month of thanksgiving, we all can be grateful to have Dr. Holly Edds leading the Orcutt Union School District.