Mark Balch

Mark Balch is an experienced high school administrator with 29 years in education, 23 of which have been in leadership roles. Throughout his career, he has worked at both the school site and district levels, focusing on student well-being, academic success, and social-emotional growth. His leadership style emphasizes community engagement and instructional improvements, ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed. In 2023, Mark became the Director of New Teacher and Migrant Support for the Kern High School District (KHSD) in Bakersfield, California. KHSD is the largest K-12 district in the state, serving over 43,000 students. In this role, Mark has focused on improving support systems for new teachers and migrant families, creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. Mark G. Balch, Ed.D., holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne, a master’s in Educational Administration from California State University, Bakersfield, and a bachelor’s in History from The Master's College in Newhall. His academic credentials have provided a strong foundation for his leadership and ability to implement positive change. During his time at KHSD, Mark has overseen several key initiatives. Under his leadership, the Kern High Teacher Residency program grew substantially, becoming one of the state's most extensive teacher residency programs. Additionally, the Kern High Induction Program received full certification for seven years, and the Migrant Support Program achieved a graduation rate of over 98%. Mark has also managed multimillion-dollar budgets and secured funding to sustain these programs. Before assuming his current role, Mark was the principal at North High School in Bakersfield, where he developed career-based pathways, including one of the state’s first high school aviation programs. He collaborated with local community leaders to address challenges in a high-poverty area, which earned him a Platinum Award from the California PBIS Commission in 2022.