Kern High School District (KHSD) Board of Trustees recently appointed Dr. Michael Zulfa as the 22nd KHSD Superintendent, effective February 1, 2024. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Superintendent Dr. Bryon

Schaefer, who has served as the Superintendent for the past nine years and 38 years in the KHSD.



Dr. Zulfa is a highly esteemed educator with 30 years in education, including a 25-year career with KHSD. An alumnus of West High School, he began his education journey as a teacher at Garces Memorial High School and then on to teaching at South High School. Over the years, Dr. Zulfa took on increasingly important roles within the District, including serving as the Dean of Instruction at South High School in 2003 and the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Foothill High School in 2005.



In 2009, Dr. Zulfa became Principal of South High School, and in 2011 he was appointed Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, and most recently, Associate Superintendent of Business in 2021.



“I feel truly blessed and humbled to be chosen to lead this remarkable district. Having devoted my professional life to student success, I expect us to work with the district partners to ensure all of our students have the support they need for future success,” says Dr. Zulfa.