The Burbank Unified School District and Board of Education welcomed Burbank’s newest assistant superintendent of instruction, Linda Gubler Junge during a Thursday meeting.
Junge comes to Burbank from the South Pasadena Unified School District, where she led the Human Resources Department as assistant superintendent. She brings 26 years of experience in education, including leadership within Glendale Unified School District as the principal of Crescenta Valley High School.
“I’m really excited to be in Burbank,” said Junge on Thursday. “It means a lot to me to work here. I am very grateful to be working with Dr. Paramo as well. He and I were Pacific League principals together and have had many conversations over the years not only about athletics but academics as well.”
The Board exchanged words with Junge, who takes the role on in former Assistant Superintendent Sharon Cuseo’s stead.
“You are taking on such a massive role within our district, and supporting as we transition from one institutional leader to a new one,” said Board President Steve Ferguson. “It is more evident than ever that it’s a new day in Burbank Unified. Our kids are in great hands.”
Junge has spent the past week at school sites engaging with district staff, students and teachers, making introductions and getting acclimated.
“People are raving about you already,” said Board member Emily Weisburg. “We are here to support you, and it is going to be really exciting getting to work with you.”
For eight years while she led CVHS as principal, Junge simultaneously worked as the lead principal for a feeder cluster of 8,450 students, provided coaching support for 16 fellow principals, and served as a member of the superintendent’s cabinet.
“As a coach to fellow principals, she planned professional development and helped build common vision to improve student outcomes focusing specifically in a high-achieving cluster of schools,” said interim Superintendent John Paramo during the meeting.
Prior to this role, Junge was principal of John Muir Elementary School in Glendale where she founded and implemented the Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion Academy.
Additionally, within GUSD, Junge worked as the cabinet-level director of public information, assessment and evaluation, and as an assistant principal of Glendale High School.
Junge began her career as a Spanish teacher, has written high school curriculum for Brigham Young University independent study courses and also teaches as adjunct professor at the University of Southern California in the Rossier School of Education. During her career in education, Junge chaired several high-profile district committees, including the Student Advisory Council, the Senior Parent Advisory Committee, and the Assessment Committee.
Junge has earned multiple awards throughout her career. In 2019, she received the Glendale Unified School District’s James R. Brown Leadership Award and she was named High School Principal of the Year by the Association of School Administrators Region XV. On three separate occasions — in 2014, 2015 and 2018 — Junge was named Educator of the Year by community organizations. She also earned an Honorary Service Award from the John Muir Elementary School PTA in 2013.
Junge holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish teaching from Brigham Young University, and two master’s degrees in educational administration and educational psychology from California State University, Northridge. She earned her doctorate in learning and instruction from the University of Southern California.
“I am really excited to join this team. Thank you so much for the trust and the opportunity,” Junge said Thursday.
First published in the August 19 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
