Office of the Superintendent
Darren Knowles is the Superintendent of the award-winning Pomona Unified School District (PUSD). He prides himself on helping students and leads a district that puts students' interests first.
With more than 30 years of educational experience, Mr. Knowles began his career as a history teacher at Marshall Middle School and the Pomona Alternative School where he also coached football, wrestling, basketball and track.
He became an Assistant Principal and was soon promoted to Principal at Simons Middle School, working with parents and teachers to develop a plan for both student and parent achievement. Over his six year tenure, the school had the greatest Academic Performance Index increases, and Simons' students led the District in library usage with the highest points for the "Reading Counts" program. More than 600 parents graduated from the "Parent Institute for Quality Education".
Mr. Knowles then moved to Human Resources as Director of both certificated and classified employees. He brought more than 2,000 employees into the District. Promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, he oversaw the introduction and implementation of technology throughout the District, transforming paper systems into computerized format. He led grant-writing, winning the District funding for such successful programs as "Community Schools", "Classified Employees Education Assistance Program", and the "Teacher as a Priority" grants.
As Deputy Superintendent of Human Resources, Mr. Knowles developed a collaborative relationship with the District's bargaining units. For more than 21 years, he negotiated bargaining agreements, managed budgets, was an advisor on the Superintendent's Cabinet, and oversaw the successful implementation of numerous grants.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of La Verne, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from California State University, San Bernardino, Mr. Knowles has also served as Adjunct Professor in the University of La Verne's Educational Leadership Program, teaching "School Law" and "Human Resources".
Active in the community, Mr. Knowles has served on the Board for the Boys and Girls Club of Pomona and volunteers for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). His memberships include: Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), School Employers Association of California (SEAC), and La Verne Athletic Associates.
Mr. Knowles believes that “Student Success is Our Success!
The district office is located at:
800 South Garey Ave., Pomona, CA 91766 Suite 209
Phone: (909) 397-4800 Ext. 23882
Fax: (909) 397-4881
