Dr. Kirsten Vital Brulte has officially begun her tenure as superintendent of the Grossmont Union High School District, following her appointment by the district’s governing board in June.
Vital Brulte previously served as superintendent of Capistrano Unified School District for eight years. The Orange County district serves more than 44,000 students and is the largest in the county.
During her time at Capistrano Unified, the district reopened classrooms earlier than many in the state and implemented math and literacy initiatives aimed at addressing learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The district received Golden Bell Awards from the California School Boards Association in 2021 and 2022 for “promoting academic excellence.” It also launched a dual enrollment partnership with Saddleback College, allowing 5,000 high school students each year to earn college credit.
Enrollment in Career Technical Education programs tripled, and facilities were modernized while student wellness and academic achievement programs were strengthened.
Reflecting on her leadership, former Capistrano Unified Board President James Reardon called her tenure “transformative,” adding, “that’s not a word I use lightly.” Board President Lisa Davis said, “CUSD and its students continue to reap the benefits of Superintendent Vital Brulte’s many organizational and policy reforms.”
Vital Brulte began her education career in 1994 as a classroom teacher at Whittier High School. She later held positions as assistant principal and co-principal at Santa Monica High School. Her leadership experience also includes roles as director at Los Angeles Unified School District, associate superintendent of Oakland Unified School District, and superintendent of Alameda Unified School District.
In Alameda, she led districtwide literacy and math efforts aimed at accelerating learning for historically underserved students. In Oakland Unified, she improved attendance and significantly reduced suspensions. At Los Angeles Unified, she boosted elementary reading and writing scores by 12 percent in her local districts.
“Dr. Vital Brulte’s proven record of innovation and student-centered leadership is what set her apart from an exceptional pool of candidates,” said GUHSD Governing Board President Jim Woods. “Her experience creating the ‘Vision for a CUSD Graduate,’ expanding high-quality academic programs and Career Technical Education pathways, strengthening dual enrollment opportunities, and building sustainable student wellness supports make her the ideal leader to guide GUHSD in fulfilling its purpose of empowering each student to build the best future.”
Vital Brulte holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Northeastern University, a master’s degree in education from Whittier College, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Mary’s College of California. She also holds a California Administrative Services Credential, a Single Subject English Credential and a CLAD certificate for English learner instruction.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as the next superintendent of the Grossmont Union High School District,” Vital Brulte said. “I am deeply grateful to the Governing Board for their confidence in me and excited to partner with the dedicated educators, staff, students, families and community members who make GUHSD such a special place. Together, we will build on the district’s strong foundation to ensure every student is seen, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.”
Her appointment followed a national search led by Leadership Associates and was informed by a community engagement process that included 40 input sessions with district staff and community leaders, as well as a districtwide survey with 1,886 responses.
