TIM AZEVEDO

Anderson Union High School District trustees selected a new superintendent at a special board meeting on Monday, Aug. 4.

Tim Azevedo is scheduled to start his position as superintendent on Aug. 18 — the same day students in the district are expected back on campus.

Azevedo comes from the Antelope Valley area that includes the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster. It is located about 60 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

Azevedo is currently an assistant superintendent of personnel services for the Antelope Valley Union High School District. Previously, he was principal of Palmdale High School, one of eight high schools in the Antelope Valley district. Azevedo has also been a dean of students, a teacher and a coach.

“My experiences in education and as a principal and personnel give me some good knowledge as far as leading organizations to move forward,” Azevedo said in a telephone interview.

The superintendent said he will bring a new ear and an open mind to the district. He said he prides himself on having an open door policy.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I think you always have to keep in mind what’s best for kids and be up-front with people,” Azevedo said.

Azevedo has experience as a union negotiator. He worked in a district that was struggling with low student test scores. Contacted by phone, Antelope Valley’s district trustee Albert Beattie, Sr., reflected positively on his colleague.

He mentioned Azevedo’s education experience, including his work as a sports coach.

“The reason I mention the coaching is because they have to deal with controversy all the time, ‘My son is not playing enough,’ or an issue of one sort or another, and they have to field those questions. Most teachers are pretty sheltered from that activity,” Beattie said.

“As an administrator, I think that he has great credentials to be able to be a good, positive, outgoing leader — one who won’t walk away from controversy and who will make himself available to people,” Beattie added.

The district signed Azevedo to a two-year contract with additional years being added after performance reviews, district board president Ron Brown said. Azevedo will be paid about $15,000 more than his predecessor’s base salary of $120,000.

Azevedo said he was attracted to Anderson school district because of its community atmosphere.

“They have good tradition in the district, very strong tradition and good strong people. I want to be part of that,“ Azevedo said.

Azevedo’s new school district will be a sharp contrast to Antelope Valley’s school district, which includes eight high schools.

“The district I’m in now has 24,000 kids,“ he said. “It feels kind of impersonal.”

The superintendent said moving to Northern California is going to be a big change, but one he is looking forward to.

“I think initially I’m looking forward to getting to meet the people and build relationships with them where I know them and they know me, and just kind of try to melt myself into the Anderson community and the district,” he said.

Reporter Michael Woodward contributed to this article.