San Francisco, CA — Today School Board President Lainie Motamedi announced she will be stepping down as Member of the San Francisco Board of Education after helping to lead the school District for the last two years. President Motamedi was appointed in March 2022 by Mayor Breed to fill a vacancy after the School Board Recall, and she has served as President since January 2024.
To fill the remainder of President Motamedi’s term, Mayor London N. Breed today swore in Phil Kim to serve as the newest member of the Board of Education. Phil has spent the last 12 years in K-12 public education, as a teacher and leader in the local, state, and national levels. In his most recent role at SFUSD, he served as Executive Director of School Strategy and Coherence within the Office of the Superintendent, providing leadership to the district’s resource alignment initiative and supporting the merger of the Educational Services and Schools Divisions.
President Motamedi Steps Down
President Motamedi announced that she has stepped down as of today as a member of the Board of Education, citing personal and health reasons. During President Motamedi’s time on the Board of Education, she along with her colleagues have accomplished a number of positive outcomes for the District, including:
- Students now have access to greatly improved literacy and math curriculum and coursework, including algebra in 8th grade. The district now publishes middle and high school course catalogs for the first time in over a decade.
- Educators are paid significantly better, the payroll system is stabilized, and a much better system is on the way and will be pressure tested before being implemented.
- District finances and operations are improving, and the Department of Education has partnered to provide resources and staff to ensure the district is run sustainably and in compliance with laws and standard practices.
- The Superintendent is now held accountable for student learning, and the board publicly monitors progress on those goals and deliverables.
- Board rules and meeting norms now prioritize students and governance responsibilities, rather than adult egos and politics.
“I am grateful for Lainie Motamedi’s service to the City of San Francisco and our families,” said Mayor Breed. “She stepped into office with a clear vision about what needed to be done to improve our schools, support our educators, and make sure our kids came first in all of our decision-making. She’s been a collaborative leader who has worked with everyone to navigate this District through difficult challenges over the last two and a half years. I wish her the best and thank her for all of her hard work.”
“President Motamedi has done yeoman’s work during her tenure on the Board of Education,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). “Since taking office at the height of a difficult time for SFUSD, President Motamedi has made sure that the district prioritizes the students and families that it serves. Her leadership will be dearly missed, and I hope that she takes pride in knowing that she leaves a better district than the one she began with.”
“It’s been an honor to serve on behalf of our students and families to make much needed, and sometimes difficult decisions to improve our school district,” said President Lainie Motamedi. “While there is much work ahead, I can confidently say I am leaving the district much better off than when I joined it. Every decision I have made has been for the benefit of our kids and their futures. I deeply appreciate our Mayor’s continued and unwavering support and commitment to families and public education, and I wholeheartedly support her choice in appointing Phil Kim for the remainder of this term. He has the experience, commitment, and energy to deliver for our kids.
Mayor Breed Swears in Phil Kim
Today, in a ceremony at City Hall, Mayor Breed swore in Phil Kim to fill the remainder of President Motamedi’s term. The term runs until November 2026 election, but the seat will open up at the next citywide election after this November, which would either be a citywide special election if called or June 2026.
In addition to over a decade working in education and his recent experience at SFUSD, Phil has deep expertise in STEM instruction: leading policy and implementation of math and science curriculum, launching computer science and robotics programs, building resources for education technology, and bringing educators together for coaching and professional development.
He has served on the Board of Directors at LYRIC Center for LGBTQQ youth, which has allowed him to partner with leaders to build an inclusive city and school system that serves our most marginalized and disenfranchised young people, especially our queer youth and youth of color. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club. He lives in the Castro neighborhood with his partner Andrew.
“The District has numerous challenges ahead of it and we need a strong, experienced voice who understands the issues the District is facing and is ready to go on Day one,” said Mayor Breed. “Phil Kim has extensive experience in education, and importantly he has been working in the District on the very issues that we know are most challenging. I’m confident he is ready to work with his colleagues, the Administration, our educators, and the families of our public schools to make San Francisco Unified School District stronger.”
“Mayor Breed could not have made a better choice in her selection of Phil Kim to serve on the Board of Education,” added Senator Wiener. “Not only has Phil led critical efforts for San Francisco’s schools, he has done extensive work in the broader community. Phil has my complete confidence, and I am excited to see him get to work in his new role.”
“Today, I am filled with gratitude and determination. I am grateful for Lainie and her leadership, grateful for the Mayor’s continued commitment to our city and our families,” said Phil Kim. “I am determined to carry on the good work of the Board, in carrying forward our student outcomes-focused governance, collaborating with the city and our community partners, and centering our students and families in all our decisions. As I resign from my position in the District, effective immediately, I want to recognize and appreciate my colleagues in SFUSD who I have had the great privilege of serving alongside.”
“Working alongside President Motamedi this past year has been a privilege, and her collaborative leadership and dedication to student success will be greatly missed by all of us on the school board,” said Matt Alexander, Board of Education President. “I am committed to continuing the progress we’ve made under her leadership as we strive to provide the quality education our students deserve. It’s a true honor to lead the Board of Education as we guide the district toward a strong and sustainable future.”
“President Motamedi has demonstrated unwavering advocacy for the students of San Francisco, and I am deeply appreciative of her leadership on the Board of Education,” said Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne. “Phil Kim has consistently proven to be a valuable member of our district’s leadership team, and his deep understanding of SFUSD’s challenges and priorities makes him well-positioned to have an immediate impact as a Board commissioner. I look forward to collaborating with President Alexander, Mr. Kim, and the entire Board as we work together to advance our shared goals for the district.”
###