Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo
Dr. Gabriel Trujillo is the proud Superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District. Appointed in April 2017, he is currently in his eighth year of service to the Tucson Unified community. As the leader of southern Arizona’s largest school system and the state’s third largest public school district, Dr. Trujillo serves 40,000 students and families, oversees the support needs of 88 schools and programs, and proudly serves nearly 8,000 employees.
Home to one of Arizona’s most culturally, ethnically, and academically diverse student populations, under his leadership, the district’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity for every student resulted in the district’s full and unconditional release from court supervision in its long-standing Desegregation Order, a landmark achievement in the district’s history.
A native Arizonan and graduate of the Peoria Unified School District, Dr. Trujillo is a proud product of Arizona public schools and has been serving children and young people as a public-school educator for 27 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Human Resources Director and Assistant Superintendent prior to his appointment as Superintendent. During his tenure, Tucson Unified schools have experienced a dramatic shift in academic improvement going from 30% to almost 70% of all district schools carrying an A or B rating, earning the district a “B” rating for the first time in its history by the Arizona Department of Education.
In November 2023, Dr. Trujillo’s vision for safe, inclusive, equitable, and modernized learning spaces and facilities for all students was rewarded by voters with a successful $480 million bond package, the largest in the district’s history.
An unwavering advocate and champion for music education and student access to the fine, performing, and visual arts, Dr. Trujillo’s vision culminated in an unprecedented expansion of fine arts and music education programs throughout the district with a multi-million dollar investment in the restoration of music teaching positions throughout the district, comprehensive support for the district’s award winning Mariachi programs, a comprehensive new instrument purchase and repair initiative, and the purchase of new band and fine arts program uniforms throughout the district. With the same passion and spirit for student access to Career and Technical Education programs, students enrolled in CTE courses throughout the district have almost doubled to 7,000 students in the last eight years, culminating in the opening of innovative new programs and facilities across the district, including the Dental Assistant and Diesel Engine Repair programs at Santa Rita High School and the opening of the district’s first new CTE-focused high school, Innovation Tech.
During his time as the Tucson Unified School District’s Superintendent, Dr. Trujillo has been recognized by the Arizona Music Education Association as its Superintendent of the Year in 2018 and the Arizona Association for Latino Administrators and Superintendents Superintendent of the Year in 2022. He serves as a board member for the Arizona Business Education Coalition, the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Heart Association, and for Tucson Values Teachers. Dr. Trujillo is the past President and current Executive Board member of the Arizona Association for Latino Administrators and Superintendents (AZALAS) and serves on the Executive Board of the Association for Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS).
A proud graduate of Arizona State University where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees, Dr. Trujillo looks forward to continuing to serve the Tucson Unified community and maintaining his commitment to academic success, access, and opportunity for every child, and a vision of excellence in customer service and family and community engagement at every school, every day.
MAPA recently awarded the Advocate in Action Award to Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo. The presenter recognized him as an individual who has "worked hard to create a school system where ALL students and families feel valued, loved, welcomed and respected."
The Governing Board approved these goals for the superintendent:
- Increase student enrollment
- Increase student academic achievement
- Increase the amount of district dollars associated with classroom instructional spending in line with the Arizona Auditor General’s criteria
- Decrease the number of classrooms without certified teachers of record
- Improve school climate and safety
