Mark Balch is an experienced high school administrator with 29 years in education, including 23 years in leadership roles. His work has focused on improving student well-being, academic performance, and social-emotional growth by fostering community engagement and making instructional changes. His leadership spans both school site and district levels, significantly impacting the education system.
In 2023, Mark G. Balch, Ed.D., became the Director of New Teacher and Migrant Support at the Kern High School District (KHSD) in Bakersfield, California, the largest K-12 district in the state, serving over 43,000 students. He 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.
Throughout his career at KHSD, Mark has managed multi-million-dollar budgets and secured substantial grant funding. Under his leadership, the Kern High Teacher Residency Program, a collaboration with CSU Bakersfield, grew into one of California's most extensive teacher residency programs. The program is expected to expand further in the 2024-2025 school year to include 40 teachers and 40 mentors. Mark’s leadership of the Kern High Induction Program also earned it full certification for seven years. The Migrant Support program, under his guidance, maintains a graduation rate exceeding 98% while serving over 200 students and families through biweekly Saturday academies.
Before his current position, Mark served as principal at North High School in Bakersfield for nearly eight years. During his tenure, he developed a career-based pathway program, including one of California’s first high school aviation programs. Mark worked closely with community leaders to foster positive change in a high-poverty area. His efforts to implement a data-driven decision-making model earned North High School a Platinum Award from the California PBIS Commission in 2022.
Earlier in his career, Mark served as Instructional Services Director for KHSD, overseeing district-wide professional development and aligning assessment practices with local districts. As Assistant Principal of Instruction at East Bakersfield High School, he led a team of 80 teachers and developed the school’s master schedule.
Mark Balch continues to serve his community through volunteer work with City Serve Bakersfield and local ministries. His commitment to education and service continues to positively impact Kern County students and families, shaping the region's future of education.
