Board appoints Dr. Don Austin as next superintendent
On May 14, 2026 — two days after the board's mutual-separation vote with Superintendent Jason Glass — the LBUSD Board of Education announced the appointment of Dr. Don Austin as Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2026. The board appointed Chief Business Official Manoj Roychowdhury as Interim Superintendent for the transition period between Glass's departure on May 31, 2026 and Austin's start. Austin previously served as principal of Laguna Beach High School for five years, and as superintendent of Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District and then Palo Alto Unified School District; his Palo Alto tenure ended in a February 20, 2026 mutual separation agreement. The press release did not state the board's vote on the appointment or describe a search process.
Citations (2)
- Laguna Beach School Board Appoints Dr. Don Austin as Superintendent of Schools primary Laguna Beach Unified School DistrictLaguna Beach Unified School District · 2026-05-14
The Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education today announced the appointment of Don Austin, Ed.D., as Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1. The action quickly follows the governing board's May 12 action to approve a mutual separation agreement with Dr. Jason Glass, which ends his service as Superintendent after May 31, 2026.
Opening of the official LBUSD Board of Education press release, issued May 14, 2026 by Board President Sheri Morgan.
- EdSource · 2026-02-20
EdSource coverage of the February 2026 mutual separation agreement that ended Don Austin's tenure as Palo Alto Unified superintendent, several months before his Laguna Beach appointment.