The Board of Education, or School Board, is the ultimate decision-making body in a school district. It is responsible for setting the strategic goals, board policies and curriculums in the school district. It also oversees school administrators, contracts, and school funding matters. School board members are elected representatives.

PUSD has 5 school board trustees and 1 student member:

• Dr. Darshana Patel (President)
• Michelle O'Connor - Ratcliff (Vice President)
• Ginger Couvrette (Member)
• Dr. Cindy Sytsma (Member)
• Heather Plotzke (Member)
• Nirja Trivedi (Student Member)

The Superintendent is in charge of managing all schools and their educational programs. The Superintendent also administers all school district policies. Dr. Marian Kim Phelps is PUSD's Superintendent. The Superintendent's Office also employs a Chief Communications Officer, a Communications Specialist and a Legal Support Specialist.

Assistant or Associate Superintendents assist the Superintendent in various operational areas. PUSD has 5 Associate Superintendents in charge of Business Support Services, Learning Support Services, Personnel Support Services, Student Support Services and Technology & Innovation. PUSD's Director of Equity and Improvement works under the Associate Superintendent of Learning Support Services.

Direct links to 5 Associate Superintendents:

• Business Support Services - Ronald Little, Associate Superintendent
• Learning Support Services - Shelley Petersen, Associate Superintendent
• Personnel Support Services - James Jimenez, Associate Superintendent
• Student Support Services - Greg Mizel, Associate Superintendent
• Technology and Innovation - Dr. Jennifer Burks, Ed.D., Associate Superintendent

During the 2022 November elections, the Poway Federation of Teachers endorsed following school board candidates who won their races:

• Ginger Couvrette
• Michael O'Connor-Ratcliff
• Heather Plotzke

Appointment of Director of Equity and Improvement

• Unanimously approved on June 3, 2022
• Michelle O'Connor - Ratcliff, Ginger Couvrette. Dr. Cindy Sytsma and Dr. Darshana Patel, (along with former Trustee TJ Zane) voted "Ayes." (motion carried unanimously, 5-0)

Memorandum of Understanding between PUSD and the Poway School Employees Association Unit I on Minimum Wage Increase and Revisions

• Unanimously approved on January 14, 2022
• Michelle O'Connor - Ratcliff, Ginger Couvrette. Dr. Cindy Sytsma and Dr. Darshana Patel, (along with former Trustee TJ Zane) voted "Ayes." (motion carried unanimously, 5-0)

Resolution No. 116-2020 “Reaffirming Poway Unified School District's Commitment to Fight Racism and Correct Systemic Inequity”

• Unanimously approved on June 25, 2020
• Michelle O'Connor - Ratcliff, Ginger Couvrette and Dr. Darshana Patel, (along with former Trustee Beatty) voted "Ayes." (TJ Zane Absent, motion carried, 4-0)