SAN BERNARDINO, CA — The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) proudly announces that Dr. Marcus Funchess, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, is the finalist selected to be the next Superintendent of Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD).
With nearly three decades of dedicated service in public education, Dr. Funchess brings a deep commitment to student achievement, equity and transformational leadership in his new role.
Since joining SBCUSD in 1998, Dr. Funchess has led with vision, compassion and a tireless dedication to excellence. As Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, he has overseen personnel management for more than 8,000 teaching and non-teaching employees and supported initiatives impacting over 43,000 students. His leadership was instrumental in developing award-winning programs, including SBCUSD’s acclaimed “Grown Our Own” teacher pipeline and the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Award winning employee onboarding program.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of Palm Springs Unified,” said Dr. Funchess. “I look forward to building upon the district’s rich legacy of excellence and equity, while working collaboratively with students, staff, families and the broader community to ensure every scholar is prepared to thrive in a complex and ever-changing world.”
Dr. Funchess’s appointment, which is slated to occur at the end of June, is a source of pride for SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, who previously served as PSUSD’s Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for 14 years. He expressed his confidence and pride in Dr. Funchess’s selection.
“Dr. Funchess is an exceptional and visionary leader whose integrity, heart and unwavering belief in the power of public education set him apart,” Arellano said. “Palm Springs Unified isn’t just gaining a new superintendent. They’re gaining a system builder, a bridge builder and a changemaker. I’m proud of the accomplishments he was able to achieve during his tenure with SBCUSD and I am looking forward to what his leadership will bring in this new role. Having spent many years with PSUSD myself, I can say with confidence they’ve found the right leader for a bold, student-centered future.”
Under Dr. Funchess’s guidance, SBCUSD saw meaningful progress in talent acquisition and development, labor relations and organizational systems. He is widely respected for his ability to build trust, empower teams and drive results that matter.
“While we will miss his daily presence, we celebrate this next chapter in his journey and look forward to the continued success he will bring to the students and families of Palm Springs Unified,” said SBCUSD Board President Mayra Ceballos.
Dr. Funchess holds a doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice from the University of Redlands and has received numerous honors, including the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Human Resources Administrator of the Year and the Juanita J. Scott Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Black Culture Foundation.
His last day with SBCUSD will be June 30, with his new role in Palm Springs beginning on July 1.
