From a Life of Juggling to a Role of Leading—Modesto’s New Superintendent Inspires Through Lived Experience
Before she was named the Superintendent of Modesto City Schools, Dr. Vanessa Buitrago spent 18 years juggling motherhood and marriage with graduate studies and demanding positions in educational administration and teaching.
“We were just constantly juggling life,” she recalls. “I was in school full time and working full time, and my husband was also in school and also had two jobs during that period of time.”
Dr. Buitrago’s husband, Isaac, is an emergency room nurse. They have two teenage children, and their eldest, Jordan, will study biological anthropology beginning this fall at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he earned a scholarship to run track as a Division 1 athlete. Jordan’s sister, Jasmin, just finished her junior year in high school. Both of Dr. Buitrago’s children work, participate in competitive sports, and have participated in dual enrollment through the Los Rios Community College system.
That relentless balancing act wasn’t just a personal challenge. Continuing to attain more and more education and continuing to encourage others to pursue their own education became Dr. Buitrago’s mission. Throughout that time, she consistently experienced how lifelong learning can change lives.
Supported by her husband as well as her mother, who helped care for her children, Dr. Buitrago leaned into the power of education—not as an abstract ideal, but as a tool for real people with real responsibilities.
“I believe strongly that education opens doors for people,” Buitrago said. “I do believe that the more you learn, the more doors are open to you.”
Dr. Buitrago, who is a graduate of Modesto High School, holds a doctorate in education, which she earned in May of this year, from California State University, Sacramento. She has a Master of Arts degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of the Pacific, a Master of Arts degree in political science from California State University, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Southern California. Dr. Buitrago also obtained a certificate in statistical, social and economic research from the University of Ghana in West Africa.
“I’ve always wanted to model for my kids what it means to grow and learn and be curious, and not only engage in formal schooling, but to always be committed to learning.”
Building People, Unlocking Potential
Dr. Buitrago’s leadership philosophy centers around people and their potential. After years of working closely with students, she saw the importance of investing deeply in adults—teachers, principals, and support staff.
“That light bulb went off,” Buitrago said. “I felt like, I could really impact a greater number of students if I’m able to build the capacity of a greater number of adults.”
One focus of Dr. Buitrago’s work is coaching leaders, developing staff, and creating a culture of learning for all.
Buitrago is currently ending her tenure at the Oakland Unified School District, where she has served as High School Network Deputy Superintendent, overseeing high school principals and programming as well as school budgets in an urban district with more than 30,000 students. Prior to her time at Oakland Unified, Buitrago served as Instructional Assistant Superintendent at the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), where she was responsible for hiring and supervising administrators, designed professional development opportunities for district leaders, guided the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) to support learners at all levels, and more.
Prior to this role, she served SCUSD as site principal, notably as the principal of the School of Engineering and Sciences, where she helped oversee a wide variety of student support services, including English language learning, special education, and behavioral interventions. She also held positions as a special education supervisor, a teacher, and a university instructor.
Coming Full Circle—And Looking Forward
Before her time at Modesto High School, where she was a student in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, she attended Roosevelt Junior High School and Beard Elementary School. As a child, Dr. Buitrago was an English language learner – she moved to the United States from Colombia when she was five years old.
Now, stepping into her role as superintendent in the district where she once sat in classrooms, Dr. Buitrago is focused on building on the gains that MCS schools and students have made in recent years, reflecting her vision of making opportunities available for all.
She’s set her sights on several key goals:
✅ Continuing MCS’s progress on student achievement
✅ Continuing the district’s high-quality professional development for staff
✅ Invest in recruiting and retaining staff
✅ Ensuring that our schools are safe, welcoming environments for all
✅ Ensuring that our district remains fiscally and operationally sound
✅ Partnering with the Board of Education to help meet the community’s needs
With a deep commitment to students and a strong connection to her hometown, Dr. Buitrago will officially begin her new role in July, when she addresses administrators and other staff groups across the district. Her leadership values learning at every stage – and honors the lives of those who pursue it.