Monrovia Unified Hires Ryan Smith As New Superintendent

MONROVIA, CA — The Monrovia Unified School District has found its new superintendent.

In a 5-0 vote during its regular meeting on Wednesday, the Board of Education approved the appointment of Ryan Smith to lead the district. Smith was one of 34 applicants who sought the position after Superintendent Katherine Thorossian announced in March she was retiring from the district at the end of the 2020-21 school year. He’s set to start in the role later this summer.

School Board President Maritza Travanti called the number of applicants unprecedented, saying it took “painstaking analysis” and two rounds of interviews before board members narrowed the field down to Smith.

“This board was unanimous in its decision to select Dr. Smith as Monrovia Unified’s next superintendent,” Travanti said during the meeting. “Smith without hesitation accepted our job offer.”

Smith has more than 25 years in education experience and spent the last five years as an administrator at the Paramount Unified School District where he recently served as the assistant superintendent of educational services.

In accepting the position, Smith said during the meeting he was overwhelmed with emotion and thankful for the board placing its trust and confidence in him to “lead the district forward together.”

“Leading up to this moment, I really enjoyed learning about the district and the All-America city and community it proudly serves,” he said. “I’m honored to be joining the family.”