Rusty Clark was welcomed last month to the Ripon Unified School District.

The new superintendent along with his wife of 32 years, Susie, and former San Joaquin County Office of Education Deputy Superintendent Gary Del Rossi were among the special guests at the May 12 school board meeting.

Clark was announced back then to take over from retiring Superintendent Ziggy Robeson effective July 1.

He received various welcoming gifts from Colony Oak Elementary School students along with each of the principals at the RUSD school sites – Ripon High’s Keith Rangel, Kathryn Diederich of Harvest High, Lisa Fereria of Weston School, Karen Ott of Colony Oak, Victor Ramirez of Park View, and Aline White of Ripona.

RUSD group spent several months in search of a new superintendent – this came shortly after Robeson announced her retirement in January – before recommending Clark, who became official after elected leaders unanimously approved his hiring.

He previously served as superintendent at the Pleasant Ridge School District, having been there since 2013.

Clark also worked at Twin Rivers Unified School District in Sacramento, serving as executive director.

He began his educational career as a high school teacher in a small rural district in Illinois, also worked as a vice principal and principal at a middle school and high school in the Bay Area and the Sacramento Area.

Clark went to college on a basketball scholarship. He’s been in California since 1990.

His family includes three sons and a daughter.