District Supe Takes Active Role in Glendora Community

Relationships are not something Glendora Unified Superintendent Dr. Robert Voors takes for granted. 

Even with some of the worst cuts to hit K-12 in recent memory clouding the district’s future – “Everything is about the budget right now,” he said – Voors provides the time to meet the district’s many stakeholders. Budget cuts, and potential future cuts, might dominate the conversation, but people affiliated with the district say he has actively courted the community rather than wait for them to stop by his office. 

“He’s a good listener and he follows up,” said Dr. Charles Gomer, a school board member. “In a community like Glendora — where we pride ourselves on our great schools, great teachers, and the outcomes of our students – we need a superintendent who is out in the community, that is visible, that listens, and follows-up.  He has done that.”

Seven months have passed since Voors became superintendent.  During these difficult times, he has been a visible presence communicating the district’s goals, and possible future with PTA parent, community groups, and anyone else who might have an interest in speaking with him.

Voors takes over a powerhouse school district, one with overall in the top five percent of California.  He wants to build on this academic success, even with dwindling resources, by engaging both struggling and academically gifted students in every way possible.

He said he would have been comfortable settling in his district-level personnel role at Baldwin Park. The superintendent at Baldwin Park urged him to take the next leap. Once he made it to the interview portion for the Glendora superintendent position, he stole the show, Gomer said. 

“It was not a hard decision at all once we got to the interview process,” said Gomer, one of five who voted unanimously to approve Voors’ selection. 

Communication is not something Voors’ shirks away from.

“As we have got to know him he seems like a great choice,” said Wayne Stam, a teacher’s union representative who was not involved in Voor’s selection.  “Since the start there has been a flow of good communication to this new relationship. So I don’t know how this will work (moving forward), but I am impressed so far.”

When he was named superintendent, Voors made the courteous step of introducing himself to the Foundation for Glendora Unified School District.

“One of the first things Rob did when he came to the district was to meet with these people,” Gomer said.  “Hear their story, see how he could help them from letting them know how we are moving educationally and what kind of needs we may have.”

On Thursday mornings, Gomer said he will occasionally see Voors at where he offers students a half-hour of help on reading. Voors is part of a second-year program that brings Kiwanians and struggling elementary school students who experience trouble with reading.

Voors has also informally attended several teacher association meetings, Stam said. 

Casual, easy-going, someone deceptively older than he looks, Voors, 52, has a resume that runs long with experience. He has 29 years of experience that stretches from teacher, assistant principal, principal, senior director, assistant superintendent and more. 

His experience should serve him well during a difficult period for the district. A decision on the June election will have large ramifications on the district, potentially costing the district $349 if voters do not approve the continuation of taxes for five years. The situation is made more difficult with one-time Federal Jobs Bill money set to expire next year. The money has been used to employ previously unaffordable teachers. 

The school is also part of , which will allow 600 students to transfer into the district to keep enrollment – and average daily attendance funds – up. 

“We don’t have the discretion to be selective,” Voors said.  “We can’t select only good students with high test scores…  We can’t interview them, look at their academic numbers, look at their behavior issues, whether they have special needs or not, we accept whoever comes. That being said, we have been very pleased with the DOC students that have come to us.”

Among other decisions, Voors is also overseeing the implementation of new technology in the classroom, a special focus from the superintendent.  With tech savvy elementary students making their way into the elementary school level, Voors said he hopes to bring a smart board, instructional computer station, document camera, LCD projector, and a student response system (clicker) to every elementary school classroom.

“Teachers much more manage the instruction, guide students, manage what is being taught and what standards students need to learn,” Voors said.  “Students have so many avenues to access information.”

 Glendora Unified will face many difficult decisions in the coming years, but Voors said his past experiences have prepared him well. He will be further tested in the coming months, especially if the is not passed.

“When you’re cutting—and you’ve already cut the easy things, those are all gone...,” Voors said. “It becomes more difficult to add things that may enhance what you’re already doing.”