Natomas Unified Superintendent Dr. Robyn Castillo Eager to Meet Community, Excited for the 2023-24 School Year

From rooting for her favorite sports teams to tips on how to engage with your student, Superintendent Dr. Robyn Castillo shares in our most recent podcast episode of Conversations with NUSD, what inspired her to become an educator and why she is excited to work in Natomas. Dr. Castillo is our school district’s new superintendent, having been officially on the job since July 1, 2023. 

 

In this episode, Castillo details her 30 year career in education, having been a classroom teacher for nine years, a Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and an Associate Superintendent. Castillo says her love of learning began at an early age, thanks in part to her mother, who ran a preschool when she was a child. She recalls playing “school” with her sister, teaching her dolls, and writing lesson plans as a child. 

 

Castillo says that when she was looking for job opportunities, Natomas Unified was the perfect fit for her and her family thanks to the location, weather, family ties and, most importantly, our district’s Core Values and Vision for our students. “When I looked at different districts, I wanted to find a district that had Core Values that were aligned with my own educational philosophy. When I looked into NUSD, I saw its work in inclusion, the International Baccalaureate program, Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways; just a lot of amazing things going on and just the dedication to student success,” Dr. Castillo says.

 

Castillo also details some of her First 100 Days plan. “I will focus on building positive relationships with all of our educational partners and to familiarize myself with all aspects of district operations,” Castillo says, “I plan to establish a strong community presence, assess our district’s strengths and areas of growth, and cultivate partnerships that will contribute to maintaining and growing excellence in the district.” She’s been visiting all of our 16 campuses, familiarizing herself with the sites, so she’s ready for the first day of school on August 10th.