Paul Turnbull
Paul Turnbull, PhD, is an accomplished educational leader with nearly three decades of experience guiding schools and school systems toward innovation, excellence, and long-term sustainability. Since 2013, he has served as President of Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu, leading a PK–12 community of approximately 1,400 students and positioning the school as an internationally recognized leader in Deeper Learning, arts, and innovation. Under his leadership, Mid-Pacific launched pioneering initiatives including an Immersive Technology Program and a first-of-its-kind AI Advisory Council, while significantly strengthening institutional advancement and endowment growth. Dr. Turnbull has also cultivated transformative partnerships with organizations such as the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Waseda University (Japan), and the Smithsonian Institution, expanding opportunities for students and faculty alike.
A strategic thinker and collaborative leader, Dr. Turnbull has demonstrated deep expertise in governance, enrollment management, faculty development, and financial stewardship. He founded the Center for Educational Advancement at Mid-Pacific, which annually serves hundreds of educators from public, private, and charter schools, and he currently contributes to the preparation of future leaders as a lecturer in the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s program in Independent School Leadership. His prior leadership roles include serving as Superintendent of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District in California, Assistant Superintendent of the Santa Barbara High School District, and principal of both Santa Barbara High School and Goleta Valley Junior High School, where he led major modernization projects, program innovation, and community engagement initiatives.
Dr. Turnbull began his career as a teacher and athletic director in an International Baccalaureate school in Canada and has remained deeply committed to teaching and learning throughout his leadership journey. He holds a PhD in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, as well as graduate and undergraduate degrees in educational leadership, education, English, and physical education from Canadian universities. An active contributor to the broader educational community, he has served on numerous boards and councils, spoken at national and international conferences, and been recognized among EdTech Digest’s Top 100 influencers. Widely respected for his forward-looking vision and dedication to student-centered learning, Dr. Turnbull is known for fostering vibrant school cultures that prepare young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Since moving to Hawaii, Dr. Turnbull has most enjoyed time with his wife, Leslie, a writer and a communications and advancement professional – whether on the water, on the trails, or traveling – while staying closely connected to their two sons, both attorneys, and their daughter, a college senior.