FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2023
Sierra Sands USD Board of Education Selects
Dr. April Moore as Superintendent

Ridgecrest, California – On April 15, 2023, the Sierra Sands Unified School District (SSUSD) Board of Trustees selected Dr. April Moore as the district's new Superintendent, effective July 1, 2023. Following a nationwide search and selection process lasting three months, the Board unanimously selected Dr. Moore to succeed Superintendent Dr. Dave Ostash, who is leaving the district to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC).
Board President Bill Farris said “Dr. April Moore is a collaborative and proven leader with years of instructional and executive cabinet-level experience working in several school districts. She also has experience working in school districts with like demographics as ours. April clearly has an excitement and genuine passion for student learning. Dr. Moore is going to be a tremendous asset to the district, and her experience will support our continued work to grow a community of engaged learners, connecting to future opportunities through innovative education. She has a visible energy and engaging presence. The entire Board is looking forward to working with Dr. Moore as we continue on the road to academic excellence.”
Dr. Moore’s extensive educational background includes a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Instructional Technology from Chapman University, and a Bachelor’s in English from Vanguard University. She’s currently in her sixth year as Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, first in Escondido Union High School District and now in Roseville Joint Union High School District (RJUHSD). Prior to this role, Dr. Moore served as the Director of Educational Services in the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD), was a high school principal, high school assistant principal, and teacher in CNUSD as well as serving as a Curriculum Coordinator of Secondary Literacy and a Project Specialist at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. Her vast experiences, combined with district-level leadership in educational and administrative services, uniquely qualify Dr. Moore for the role of Superintendent in the Sierra Sands USD.
Roseville Joint UHSD, Superintendent, John Becker states, “We are excited for Dr. Moore and the community of Sierra Sands. We appreciate the collaborative leadership Dr. Moore brought to RJUHSD. Dr. Moore is a passionate learner and provides a commitment to high expectations and a culture of reflection and growth for her team. We are all looking for the next generation of skilled educational leaders, and Dr. Moore fits this opportunity beyond any measure. Her ability to work with our staff and community to build and redesign systems with clear communication was invaluable and will be difficult to replace. I look forward to working with her in her new capacity as Superintendent.”
“I am honored to have been chosen for this position,” said Dr. Moore. “I want to thank the Board of Education for providing me the opportunity to lead this great school district. I am grateful to serve as the next Superintendent. Sierra Sands has much to celebrate and much work ahead as we seek to continue to support all students to learn at high levels. I am confident that together we can achieve success, as our students deserve the best from us each and every day. Ultimately, our job in public education is to mobilize the whole community to support education that maximizes each student’s potential. In addition, I believe it is critical that we provide our administrators, teachers, counselors, and support staff with the resources, materials, and training necessary to enhance the already high- quality educational experience that our teachers provide our students daily. I’m looking forward to a strong partnership with all stakeholders in support of Sierra Sands USD students.”
Dr. April Moore and her husband Ken reside in Roseville, CA and will be moving to Ridgecrest.
Plans for a meet-and-greet opportunity for students, parents, staff, and the school community with Dr. Moore are in process.