Michael Matsuda Appointed as Senior Fellow at ISCL
CAMBRIDGE, MA – Today, the Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader (ISCL) at Harvard Graduate School of Education announced the appointment of Michael Matsuda as a Senior Fellow.
Over the course of two years, Matsuda will engage with the Harvard community and draw on nearly three decades of experience in public education to share lessons on leadership, innovation, and transforming the student experience. A nationally recognized 21st-century education leader, Matsuda is known for his community-driven leadership and deep commitment to students and public education.
About Michael Matsuda
Matsuda recently retired after 12 years as superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD), one of Southern California’s largest and most diverse school districts. His work focused on moving beyond traditional measures of student success and building systems that prepare young people for meaningful careers, civic engagement, and life beyond high school.
As superintendent, Matsuda spearheaded the development of the Career Preparedness Systems Framework (CPSF), which expanded the definition of student success to include five durable skills: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and compassion. Under his leadership, AUHSD founded the Anaheim Collaborative and launched the nationally recognized Anaheim Innovative Mentoring Experience (AIME) program, connecting students with real-world mentoring and work-based learning through more than 130 business and nonprofit partners.
Matsuda also championed civic engagement and student voice across the district. More than 10 AUHSD schools have earned the prestigious “Democracy School” designation, empowering students to engage with real-world issues and participate meaningfully in their communities. His leadership has been awarded with honors including Education Week’s “Leaders to Learn From” Award, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Administrator of the Year Award and the California Association of Asian and Pacific Leaders in Education (CAAPLE) Superintendent of the Year Award.
“Mike Matsuda understands that the work of a superintendent extends far beyond the walls of a school building,” says Jennifer Cheatham, ISCL Lead, Senior Lecturer, and Faculty Chair of Field Engagement at Harvard Graduate School of Education. “He has shown how education leaders can bring students, educators, families, and community partners together around a shared vision, while using innovative approaches to create new opportunities for young people.”
Exploring Innovation and Civic Leadership in Public Education
In his role as a Senior Fellow, Matsuda will explore how superintendents can develop strong outcomes for students by leveraging their roles as civic leaders in times of intense change. Developed in partnership with ISCL, his project will examine the evolving role of education leaders and the future of public education.
“Educators have a responsibility to create schools that expand what young people believe is possible,” said Matsuda. “I’m excited to bring my experiences to ISCL, learn alongside others, and explore what it takes to build schools that prepare young people for meaningful careers, civic life, and the future.”
Matsuda’s appointment began in August 2026 and extends through June 2028.
Matsuda joins Dr. Russell Booker and Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell as one of three Senior Fellows with the Initiative. Together, they offer their decades of experience and unique perspectives to inform ISCL’s work to strengthen superintendent preparation, support, and practice.
About the Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader
The Initiative on the Superintendent as Civic Leader (ISCL) at Harvard Graduate School of Education transforms how superintendents and their teams and boards are prepared and supported so they can steward the future of public education with civic imagination, democratic purpose, and political skill. As a field catalyst for superintendent civic leadership, ISCL focuses on three mutually reinforcing strategies: offering direct professional learning experiences for superintendents and those who support them, creating and disseminating new research-based tools and resources for teaching and supporting superintendents, and building a community of practice to advance the field.