Dr. John Bowes is currently the Superintendent at Manhattan Beach Unified School District. For the past 30+ years, he has led thousands of certificated, classified staff, and students throughout the State of California.

Dr. Bowes took the helm at Manhattan Beach Unified School District as Superintendent on August 7, 2021. He has focused District efforts and resources around MBUSD’s five Board goals to maximize the academic success of all students, create a culture of care and inclusion, develop District infrastructure and facilities, maintain a balanced budget, and communicate clearly. This is happening through the development of professional learning communities, the involvement of parents and the community, and a focus on providing a personalized learning experience for every student. You can learn more about all of the great things happening in MBUSD by subscribing to Dr. Bowes’ weekly Superintendent’s Newsletter via email (please click here to subscribe) and please see the latest Newsletter edition here.

Dr. Bowes earned his Ed.D. from UCLA, his Master’s degree from Cal Lutheran, and his B.S. degrees in finance and management from Virginia Tech. His career in education spans more than three decades as a teacher, principal, director, and assistant superintendent.

He served as Superintendent in the Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD) from 2016 to 2021 and under his leadership there, an array of strategic initiatives were developed including outstanding career academies; an award-winning special education inclusion model; renowned theater arts and music programs; an in-house teacher credentialing program; and the passage of two parcel taxes in addition to a bond that supports high-quality teaching and learning facilities across the district. In 2019, Dr. Bowes was named one of the Top 300 Civic Leaders in the Sacramento Region for his influential leadership and future-focused work in education.

Before leading the Davis team, Dr. Bowes served as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in the neighboring Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. Before this role, he spent twenty-four years in the Los Angeles Unified School District, which included serving as a teacher, principal, and leading labor relations. Dr. Bowes fosters a deep sense of inclusivity and brings incredible insight to the role.

Dr. Bowes has been at the forefront of innovative work to promote excellence and equity in education, 21st-century teaching, and learning practices, and creating safe and welcoming campuses that are responsive to the social and emotional learning needs of all students. After college, Dr. Bowes served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. He learned to speak Spanish there and his service in the Peace Corps, along with his own experience as a student in Fairfax County Public Schools, sparked his passion for education and continues to ground his daily practice to ensure that all students are seen, heard, and have the opportunities and access they need to allow them to achieve and thrive.