Tucson Standard

Steve Holmes, Sunnyside Unified School District superintendent, revealed that he will leave his position and become Pima County’s new deputy county administrator on July 18.

Holmes will take the position vacated by Jan Lesher when she became Pima County administrator, according to KOLD News 13. 

He served as superintendent or assistant superintendent of Sunnyside schools for 14 years, Tucson.com reported. 

“Leaving Sunnyside has been a difficult decision,” Holmes told KOLD News 13. “I have loved every day I spent in service to the students, parents, teachers, and staff of the wonderful Sunnyside community. However, I’m ready for new challenges and new opportunities in my career. I’m excited to join Pima County at the start of a new era for county government and leadership.”

Holmes will earn an annual salary of $230,000, according to Tucson.com. He will oversee administrative support departments including information technology and procurement, as well as public defense services.

“I’ve been in community service for many years; that’s been my calling,” he told Tucson.com. “I love trying to improve on our communities to do great for not only the children that I’ve served for many years but the broader community that are impacted by the decisions we make as leaders.”

Holmes attended Sunnyside schools and earned a degree from the University of Arizona, according to KGUN 9. He earned a master’s degree in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University. He was named Superintendent of the Year for 2022 by the Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.

“Mr. Holmes joins Pima County following 28 years of extraordinary service in public education and a very successful period as superintendent of the Sunnyside Unified School District,” Lesher said. “Leading more than 14,000 students and a workforce of 2,000 employees, Mr. Holmes has experience managing and transforming systems that are similar in many ways to those of Pima County.”