The Association of California School Administrators has named Kimberlie Linz as its 2023 State Business Official of the Year.
Linz, who serves as chief business official for the El Segundo Unified School District, has built trust in the school community by clearly communicating that student achievement and wellbeing remains at the heart of the district’s budgeting process. She is known for taking a students-first approach to overseeing the district’s Business Services, Facilities and Maintenance Department, ensuring fiscal solvency while finding innovative solutions to support teaching and learning throughout ESUSD.
Additionally, Linz has contributed to a positive internal culture, frequently highlighting the accomplishments of the entire team. She has also maintained strong relationships with labor partners, which has allowed for troubleshooting budgetary challenges related to the schools, instructional programs, student learning, and staff development.
“Ms. Linz is truly an outstanding chief business official for our district, and we are thrilled that she has been recognized at the state level for her efforts,” said Dr. Melissa Moore, Superintendent. “Thanks to her exceptional work, our district’s budgets have reflected our educational priorities when it comes to placing teaching and learning first. She combines a passion for education with an in-depth understanding of school finance and the funding ESUSD receives based on the student population we serve. Ms. Linz’s work has been critical to our success, and this honor is a reflection of everything she brings to our district.”
Linz has also developed a reputation for her high ethical standards and professionalism. ESUSD consistently has clean financial audits with no significant findings. Other CBOs in districts throughout the region regularly seek out her advice, and she has served as a mentor to school finance professionals statewide.
Linz has been CBO in ESUSD since 2018. Before that, she was a middle school principal in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.