Orlenda Roberts has worked as an educator for over 34 years.  Almost her entire professional life has been dedicated to serving the children of Pinal County.  Her areas of expertise are diverse, with strengths in educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, teacher training, program planning and development, school finance, assessment of school programs and grant writing.  Her goal for the School Superintendent’s Office is to continue to work in partnership with the schools and school districts in Pinal County to address common goals and challenges.  As School Superintendent, she is both passionate about and committed to collaborating with other school leaders to provide the best educational programs possible to the students served by the schools in Pinal County. 

During her career, she has been nominated for and received recognition and awards for her outstanding work.  Some of the professional honors that she has achieved are as follows:

• EXECUTIVE EDUCATOR 100 – Selected as one of the top 100 administrators in the United States in school districts with less than 2500 students

• Appointed by Governor Napolitano to Arizona Commission for African-American Affairs.  Currently serve as Vice-Chair.

• Re-appointed by Governor Napolitano to Board of Directors for Arizona State Schools for Deaf & Blind. 

• Awarded a plaque by Stanfield School staff in recognition of dedication to students and staff

• Awarded a plaque by Title 9/Johnson O’Malley Parent Advisory Committee for Stanfield School in recognition of outstanding support for Native American parents and students

• Recipient of the Pinal County Black Image Award

Mrs. Roberts works extremely well with various stakeholders not only within the educational environment but also with community and civic organizations.  She is a member of a number of professional and community organizations including:  Arizona School Administrators Association, Arizona Commission for African-American Affairs, Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind Board of Directors, Arizona Town Hall, Against Abuse Board of Directors, Governor’s African-American Advisory Committee, Governor’s Citizen’s Traffic Stop Advisory Committee, Pinal County Special Education Advisory Board, and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Advisory Board.

Orlenda received her education training at the University of Arizona where she earned both her bachelors and masters degrees.  Her first job, which she began immediately following graduation with her bachelor’s degree, was serving as a teacher at Safford Middle School in the Tucson Unified School District (1969-71).  She has also worked for Casa Grande Elementary School District (Title 1 Reading Teacher – 1973-74), Casa Grande Union High School District (1974 – 1997) where she held various positions from teacher to special education director to federal programs coordinator and finally assistant principal.  After 23 years at CGUHS, Mrs. Roberts left to assume the position of Superintendent for Stanfield Elementary School District in July of 1997 where she remained until hired by Dr. Jack W. Harmon to work for the Pinal County School Superintendent’s Office in April 2000.  She assumed the position of Assistant Superintendent in January 2001 following the retirement of her predecessor.  Upon Dr. Harmon’s retirement on June 30, 2007, she applied for and was appointed by the Board of Supervisors on August 1, 2007 to serve as the current Pinal County School Superintendent. 

Mrs. Roberts and her husband, Leonard (Tad), make their home in a rural area near the town of Casa Grande.  They have two grown children:  Michele and Jon.