Longtime Julian school superintendent to retire

The superintendent of Julian Union Elementary School District is retiring at the end of the school year after more than a decade leading the tiny rural district in San Diego County’s mountainous east.

Brian Duffy has spent his entire three-decade career in Julian, working as a fifth-grade teacher for a decade and as a principal for another.

His influence looms large in the district — every person who works there now is somebody he hired.

But he looks back most fondly on the time when his kids were students there, and on all of the friendships he’s made on the staff.

Duffy said the district has been fortunate that its educators stay for so long, something he credits in part to Julian being a great place to raise a family.

“That’s one of the benefits of being in this community,” he said. “You’re here with your kids, you get to watch them grow.”

Duffy said he has been planning to retire since last spring and talking with the board about a transition. He hopes his successor will understand their unique community — which includes two tribal reservations — and be loyal to the district.

“It’s really hard, especially in the backcountry, to find somebody loyal to the district that’s also qualified,” he said. “Our school is the home of this whole community.”

The board accepted Duffy’s resignation at its Wednesday meeting.