More details have emerged regarding the unexpected firing of Mary Dewan, the Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools. The decision to terminate Dewan was made in a closed-session meeting by the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s board of trustees, just hours after an investigation found that allegations against her, raised by a board member, were unsubstantiated.
Dewan, who was appointed to her position through June 2026, was removed without cause in a 4-2 vote in the early morning hours of October 3. Board president Maimona Afzal Berta, along with members Joseph Di Salvo, Grace Mah, and Don Rocha, voted in favor of the termination, while members Victoria Chon and Tara Sreekrishnan opposed it. Board member Raeena Lari abstained from voting.
While the board has refrained from providing specific reasons for Dewan’s removal, she filed a lawsuit last week claiming she was fired without cause or explanation. Investigative reports have since surfaced, highlighting an internal struggle between board members and the superintendent, allegations of misconduct by board member Grace Mah, and concerns of retaliation against Dewan.
Mah did not respond to requests for comment. Dewan and her attorney, Steven Ellenberg, also declined to discuss the investigations.
One of the recent investigations began after Dewan received multiple complaints regarding board conduct. This inquiry, conducted by Oppenheimer Investigations Group, which specializes in impartial workplace investigations, started in May and concluded on October 11. The report revealed that county staff felt “demoralized and exhausted by the constant harassment” directed at Dewan, adding that staff members feared that Dewan’s termination would negatively impact their jobs and the overall working environment.
“Their fears were confirmed when the board voted to terminate the superintendent’s contract without stating any cause,” the report stated. It also noted “excessive scrutiny” of staff by the board, which contributed to an unhealthy workplace atmosphere.
Board member Grace Mah was frequently mentioned in the investigation, particularly regarding her “willful violation” of policies and open meeting laws under the Brown Act. In a May 2023 email, Mah suggested that “lawyers said that they have never heard of anyone going to jail for violating the Brown Act” and expressed indifference to the potential consequences of breaking the law during a board retreat.
The investigation also found that Mah used a personal email for official board communications, disregarding a cease and desist order from the former board president.
A separate investigation, led by Steve Hummel from the consulting firm Paradox Technology, focused on Mah’s complaints about the allegations against her, which she claimed were attempts to discredit her ahead of an upcoming election. Hummel’s findings indicated that Mah violated board regulations and bylaws and inappropriately interfered with personnel matters.
Hummel remarked, “It seems Grace Mah is coloring outside the lines as if she wanted to be the superintendent.” He noted that Mah appeared to be overstepping her role as a trustee by trying to fix what she perceived as operational issues.
Sources close to the investigations indicated that tensions escalated after the former county Head Start director, Antonio Fuentes, was placed on leave in the spring. Mah, who had a close relationship with Fuentes, participated in a public petition to reinstate him.
Dewan’s termination has sparked outrage among community members, some board members, and state legislators. Board member Sreekrishnan has called for a civil grand jury investigation into the board’s governance and mismanagement. Additionally, a group of six state assemblymembers and senators sent a letter opposing Dewan’s termination, stating that the board’s decision “wastes finite public resources” and disrupts essential services for students and districts.
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