Executive Cabinet

Dr. William Eger is Superintendent of the Newark Unified School District (NUSD), a role he began in July 2026. He previously served as Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations at Ravenswood City School District from 2020 to 2026, where he built community trust through transparent and interactive budgeting practices while leveraging philanthropy and braided state grants to increase both per-pupil spending and district reserves. He oversaw $240 million in school construction projects and led efforts to lease two underutilized district sites, generating new district revenue and supporting the development of more than 500 units of 100 percent affordable housing, with a preference for teachers and staff.

Through close collaboration with labor partners, Dr. Eger negotiated the state's first performance-based teacher compensation contract, improving retention and recruitment. New partnerships expanded out-of-school programming and academic intervention for students. Collectively, these efforts helped move Ravenswood from a modest deficit to healthy reserves, saw multiple credit rating increases, and supported gains in student achievement.

Prior to his work at Ravenswood, Dr. Eger served as Director of Strategic Initiatives for Boston Public Schools, where he contributed to long-term academic and financial planning, more equitable resource allocation, and an innovative student transportation routing system later spun out into a company. Earlier in his career, he was a Senior Associate in the Education Practice at The Parthenon Group, working primarily with Detroit Public Schools during their financial recovery.

Dr. Eger began his career as a high school mathematics teacher in Philadelphia and as a City Year Corps Member. He teaches "Mission and Money" as a Lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education and Graduate School of Business. Dr. Eger holds an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.S.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an alumnus of the Broad Residency and serves on the board of EdSource.

Karen Allard brings over twenty-five years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, principal and district office administrator to Newark Unified School District.    

For the past four years, Karen served as the Director of Professional Learning for the Santa Clara Unified School District.  In this position she led a new district department aligned with the district’s vision and strategic plans to engage certificated and classified employees in continuous improvement and designed multi professional learning pathways to foster career development opportunities.     

Prior to her appointment at Santa Clara Unified, she worked at Franklin - McKinley School District as the Director of Curriculum of Instruction for six years.  During her tenure at FMSD, she worked collaboratively with colleagues to positively impact student achievement by focusing on a K-8 literacy initiative and a multi-year comprehensive plan to increase the academic performance of a culturally diverse student population.   

Before becoming a district office administrator, Karen positively changed two struggling campuses in the Moreland School District as a site administrator.  One elementary school exited Program Improvement Year 4 within a three year period and a comprehensive middle campus dramatically increased student performance by implementing Professional Learning Communities that operated with a sense of moral authority and responsibility for making a difference in the lives of adolescents.  Both sites received local and State recognition including the National School Boards Association Magma Award, Glenn W. Hoffman Award, California Distinguished School Award and California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award. 

During her teaching career, she enjoyed being a National trainer for Dr. Spencer Kagan and led professional learning workshops and seminars based on cooperative learning and the multiple intelligences across the United States.   She coached teachers to create positive and supportive learning environments that increased student engagement while developing their higher-level thinking, oral communication and leadership skills.   

Karen is a proud mother of two children, Linzey 21 and Zach 18 and has been married to her husband, Matt for 24 years.  She enjoys spending time with family, exercising, walking her dogs, and spending time at the beach.
 

Victoria Knutson is a seasoned educational leader with nearly two decades of experience in public school finance, business services, and district operations. She brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to school business leadership, grounded in collaboration and fiscal
responsibility. Prior to joining Newark Unified School District, Victoria served as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services / Chief Business Officer for the Evergreen School District in Santa Clara County, where she oversaw finance, budgeting, payroll, facilities, transportation,
food services, bond programs, and other essential operational functions that directly supported schools and students.

Victoria’s career in education finance includes leadership roles as Director of Fiscal Services at Morgan Hill Unified School District, along with positions in Hollister School District, San Leandro Unified School District, and Salinas City Elementary School District. Throughout her
career, she has managed complex General Fund budgets exceeding $150 million, along with additional special and restricted funds, and has led major initiatives such as voter-approved bond programs focused on technology, safety, and long-term district sustainability.

Before transitioning into public education, Victoria spent several years in the private banking industry, where she developed a strong foundation in financial analysis, customer service, and fiscal stewardship. This experience continues to inform her practical, solutions-oriented approach to school business operations and decision-making.

Victoria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is a Certified Chief Business Official (CBO) through the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) and a graduate of the Fiscal Crisis
& Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) CBO Mentor Program.

A central focus of Victoria’s work is strengthening internal controls and improving districtwide processes. She is passionate about building clear, consistent systems that promote accountability while also making school business operations more streamlined, transparent, and easier to
understand. By simplifying complex financial and operational processes, she helps ensure that school sites, departments, and stakeholders feel informed, supported, and confident in navigating district systems.

Victoria’s leadership has been recognized through prestigious honors, including the CASBO Magnificent Seven Award for Excellence in Financial Services and the Golden Bell Award for Local Control Accountability Plans. Her commitment to long-term fiscal sustainability has also
resulted in top-tier credit ratings from Moody’s and S&P Global.

Known for her collaborative and people-centered leadership style, Victoria values clear communication, strong systems, and meaningful relationships. She thrives in working alongside staff, community members, and governing boards to ensure responsible, transparent fiscal
management—so educators can stay focused on what matters most: student learning and success.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Victoria remains deeply connected to the communities she serves and has family living locally. She is a proud mother of two school-aged boys who keep her busy. Watching them learn, grow, and navigate their own educational journeys serves as a constant reminder of why she is dedicated to public education and inspires her commitment to ensuring that all students have access to safe, supportive, and well-resourced schools.

Mike Williams is an accomplished and experienced Human Resources Administrator with a strong track record of improving employee recruitment, retention, and development through the implementation of strategic systems that align with district-wide goals. With over seven years of leadership as a Director of Human Resources, Mike brings deep expertise in personnel management, organizational development, and collaborative problem-solving. His work is grounded in the belief that strong relationships and well-designed systems are the foundation of an effective HR department and a successful school district.

Before transitioning to district leadership, Mike served as a teacher, middle and high school vice principal, and high school principal, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape from the classroom to the district office. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Chico State University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from San Francisco State University. Throughout his career, Mike has remained committed to building trust, fostering professional growth, and developing infrastructure that supports both staff and students across all levels of the organization.