Dr. Isaaic Gates previously served as deputy superintendent of human resources for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. (photo courtesy of BHUSD)

The Beverly Hills Unified School District approved the appointment of Dr. Issaic Gates as the district’s new executive director of personnel services at its Nov. 4 meeting.

“I am honored to serve the Beverly Hills Unified School District,” Gates said. “This is a community that deeply values excellence, possibility and connection. I look forward to supporting our extraordinary staff and ensuring that BHUSD continues to be a place where every student is known, challenged and supported.”

In his 20 years of public education experience, Gates has served as a classroom teacher, school principal and district executive. During his tenure as principal of San Marino High School, Gates led the school to become the No. 1 academically achieving high school in  California for three consecutive years. Gates was also an executive director in the Inglewood Unified School District, where he developed programs to bring students on college tours, introducing them to post-secondary educational options. Most recently, Gates served as the deputy superintendent of human resources for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, under Dr. Alex Cherniss, then-PYLUSD superintendent who is now BHUSD superintendent.

“Exceptional schools begin with exceptional people, and Dr. Gates embodies that belief,” Cherniss said. “He understands that the heart of a thriving district is the people who serve our students every day. His commitment to recruiting, supporting and uplifting educators aligns perfectly with BHUSD’s standard of educational excellence. Dr. Gates is the right leader at the right time for Beverly Hills Unified, and we are fortunate to welcome him.”

Prior to entering school administration, Gates worked as a group home counselor. Gates earned his doctorate in K-12 leadership from the University of Southern California, a master’s in education administration from California State University, Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s in early childhood education from the University of Central Florida. He also serves as an adjunct professor at USC’s Rossier School of Education.

At the school board meeting on Nov. 4, BHUSD parent Kimberly Lifschitz expressed concern over the approval of Gates as assistant superintendent. According to the Orange County Register, the PYLUSD Board of Education placed both Gates and Cherniss on administrative leave in December 2024, in addition to five other administrators. Lifschitz said that while the board voted to reinstate five of the seven administrators, Gates and Cherniss were not reinstated. Lifschitz raised red flags over several lawsuits filed by PYLUSD employees against the Orange County district alleging breach of contract.

“Is there really not one single person in the state of California who is qualified to fill this position and does not have multiple lawsuits hanging over their head that arose from conduct directly related to their prospective duties in BHUSD?” Lifschitz said.

The appointment was approved by the board in a 4-0 vote. Board Member Dr. Amanda Stern said that while she was “happy” to have Gates as the new assistant superintendent and believed he was qualified, she abstained from voting due to the process of his appointment.

“I am abstaining because the announcement of his appointment after much time transpired was unusually obscured and difficult to find in this [meeting’s] agenda,” Stern said. “I was not the only person who found this to be true.”

Gates’ appointment was part of the board’s consent calendar under the certificated personnel report.

“Let me clarify, my choice to abstain has little to do with the individual in question and more to do with what felt like a bungled hiring process that lacked the usual transparency and due diligence that is required for such a high-level hire,” Stern said.

Board Member Russell Stuart said he was “incredibly confused” by Stern’s comments, adding that Stern was “play[ing] ignorant.”

“Mr. Gates is an incredible human being, we vetted him thoroughly,” Stuart said. “He’s been attacked in his own district, just like Dr. Cherniss was. And now Dr. Cherniss is our superintendent. And by the way, he’s doing an incredible job. Our district is showing incredible turnaround across the board.”

Stuart also responded to Lifschitz’s comments, calling them “garbage.”

Stuart’s comments were echoed by Board Vice President Judith Manouchehri and Board Member Sigalie Sabag.

Board President Rachelle Marcus said she supported Gates’ appointment because he will only hold the position temporarily until July 1, 2026, at which point the district can evaluate further.

“We’ve got to give him a chance. We haven’t given him that chance yet,” Marcus said. “He’s been in many situations. He seems to be very capable. I know that there’s some bad stuff that has happened in the past but I for one want to remember that this is not a three-year contract. It’s going until July 1, and at that point we will make a decision, and he will know and we will know if he’s the right person for us.”