Dr. Ralph Baker

Dr. Ralph Baker lives in San Diego California and is devoted to educational leadership development and organizational effectiveness. He believes that it takes very skilled leaders to facilitate growth at the district and school levels and that Board- Superintendent Effective Teamwork is at the heart of the process.

He served 24 years as a superintendent and was honored when the Board of Trustees named their newest school, Dr. Ralph H Baker, 21st Century Learning Center. After retiring he worked for 8 years with the California San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Office as a Board- Superintendent Governance Advisor. He served with a team of retired superintendents assisting Boards in the recruitment, selection and hiring process for their new superintendent. Their service included coordinating the interview, drafting the employment contract and the evaluation process as well as conducting workshops on Board- Superintendent Effectiveness. He further negotiated superintendent employment contracts resulting in his book, Dancing with the Bear: Negotiating the Superintendent Employment Contract. He found the employment contract the weakest part of the superintendent leadership plan. It often resulted in communication issues between board members and superintendents centered around role confusion leading to superintendent dismissal.

His follow-up book, Next Level Educational Leadership: Purpose-Driven Board-Superintendent Teamwork addresses the question, "Now that you have the job what do you plan to do with it?" It's focus is primarily for aspiring or new superintendents and as Dr. Doug Reeves, Center for Creative Leadership, stated, "It serves as a valuable resource for seasoned board members and administrators." He went on to explain to Ralph that leadership development organizations and universities would benefit from this book.

Ralph's experience includes, teaching at the elementary, junior high school, high school levels and as an adjunct professor. During his teaching years he coached football, basketball and baseball and annually meets with former athletes for a lunch to share stories and catch up on life events. His administrative experience includes being a Dean of Student Discipline, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction, Athletic Director, Principal, Human Relations Specialist, Director of a Charter High School and as Superintendent of Schools.

As a leader he was noted for being an Out-of-the Box creative and fearless superintendent. He was noted for being a teacher's leader and believed an administrators role was to focus on teachers and the teachers role was to focus on student education. His style of management was to have the board craft a direction for staff and provide schools with the authority and budget to create a plan to achieve board direction. The central office provided coaching, monitoring and holding principals responsible and accountable for results.

Ralph no longer travels to consult with districts as his wife developed Parkinson's and he does not desire to travel too far from home. He does consult with superintendents regarding contract and leadership issues and has presented in downtown San Diego as he walks daily to the convention center to go up and over the convention steps to travel the harbor as well as meeting individuals at Roy's, Marriott and Sally's at the Hyatt Hotel Restaurants.

His hobbies include educational leadership research, exercise and nutrition. He was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic carcinoma in August of 2024. He lives by the saying, "When the going gets tough- get tougher and trust in the lord."