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Michael Matsuda is a nationally recognized 21st-century educational leader known for innovation, entrepreneurship, and compassion. Under his leadership, the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) has built a new educational model called the "Career Preparedness Systems Framework" in partnership with higher education, private, and non-profit sectors. This model has extended and transformed educational opportunities for all students, centering on their own voice and purpose.

Since becoming superintendent in 2014, Mr. Matsuda has earned several accolades, including:

• One of twelve national “Leaders to Learn From” Awards from Education Week Magazine
• The “Visionary Education Leadership Award” from California State University, Fullerton
• The California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Administrator of the Year Award
• An honorary “Doctor of the University” from Chapman University
• The Outstanding Community Partner Award from the UCI School of Education

Additionally, Mr. Matsuda was named the California Council for the Social Studies Administrator of the Year for promoting democracy in public schools. AUHSD leads the state with 17 California Democracy Schools, which promote student voice and civic engagement throughout the district. Mr. Matsuda was also appointed to the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) Board of Directors to enhance the organization’s mission of ensuring underserved students have the opportunity, skills, and knowledge to pursue the education and training necessary to achieve their career and life goals. NCCEP oversees the federal government’s largest secondary grant program, GEAR UP. He also served four years as president of Californians Together, advocating for plurilingual and long-term English learners, and nine years as an elected trustee with the North Orange County Community College District.

As an innovator, Mr. Matsuda developed the AIME (Anaheim Innovative Mentoring Experience) program, creating mentorship opportunities involving over 120 businesses and nonprofits for over 20,000 high school students. He also established more than 300 annual summer work-based paid internship experiences for students. He has uplifted innovative teacher leaders who have developed​ the district-wide student capstone experience,​ an urban farm dedicated to solving food deserts,​ the region's foremost cybersecurity and AI career pathways, and​ the first esports and game design pathway, among other remarkable innovations across the district.

He also conceptualized the AUHSD SERVATHON, an annual service event celebrating MLK Day with over 4,000 students, families, and adult mentors. Mr. Matsuda has partnered with the teachers' union, ASTA, to develop California's leading community school model, which uplifts teachers as liaisons between communities, students, and families, focusing on student voice and agency through incredible learning experiences and problem-solving. Finally, Mr. Matsuda conceptualized and developed the AI K-12 Deeper Learning Summit, which brought together leading national AI experts and K-12 teachers from over thirty states to explore how AI can support whole-child education.

Before assuming the role of superintendent in March 2014, Mr. Matsuda spent 22 years as an educator in the Anaheim Union High School District. He began teaching at Orangeview Junior High School, where he was twice selected as Teacher of the Year. He also taught honors English classes at Oxford Academy before becoming the coordinator for professional learning, overseeing the 5C coaches and the development of numerous grants. He received his BA from UCLA, his MPA from USC, his teaching credential from Chapman University, and his administrative credential from CSUF.

Some of Mr. Matsuda's personal journey and connection to the Anaheim Union High School District is recounted in the short documentary Remember Us: An Historic Chapter at Anaheim High School. Remember Us documents the internment of Japanese American students at Anaheim High School who were forced to relocate to concentration camps. This powerful and personal story highlights Ruth Ikeda, mother of Superintendent Matsuda.

Mr. Matsuda is also the co-author, alongside David Brazer, of a new book, Educating for Purposeful Life, which serves as a blueprint for school district transformation in AUHSD.