PIEDMONT — Piedmont Unified Faculty District Superintendent Randy Booker has introduced his departure from the district for a job at his alma mater, the San Mateo Union Excessive Faculty District, which he attended as a teen.
“In some ways my profession in training is coming full-circle,” Booker mentioned.
Booker despatched an advisory Could 13 to highschool dad and mom and the Piedmont group at giant, saying “That is bittersweet, as I've been privileged to work within the Piedmont faculties for 19 years. Right here my extraordinary colleagues regularly innovate to enhance training for every person.”
Booker got here from the Albany Unified Faculty District within the early 2000s to be Piedmont Excessive Faculty’s principal till June 2011. He served as assistant superintendent from 2011 to June 2015.
Then-superintendent Connie Hubbard introduced in November 2014 that she was leaving the next June, and an intensive search started for a brand new superintendent, the place Booker was picked for in March 2015. He might be tremendously missed, mentioned Hubbard, who's now president of Oakland’s Holy Names Excessive Faculty.
“Randy Booker understands that the soul of an training group is determined by its academics. His belief within the educating group of Piedmont was lived by way of his alternative of colleges for his personal youngsters. He modeled the expectations of respect, care and integrity in every function he served in Piedmont. The Piedmont group has been enriched with Randy Booker as superintendent,” Hubbard mentioned.
Booker weathered occasions good and dangerous throughout his tenure however at all times with a watch on unfailing pupil help. He handled repeated cuts in state funding and challenges from the pandemic. There was a latest controversy that gathered nationwide consideration a couple of “White pupil help circle” that one other college official proposed for discussing race relations after Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin’s conviction for George Floyd’s homicide and the following nationwide dialog.
On the constructive aspect, the $66 million bond Measure H1 handed in November 2016 to fund development of a brand new college district STEAM (science, expertise, engineering, artwork and math) constructing, new theater and different enhancements and modernizations. Booker spoke extremely of the district and his private experiences inside it.
“I wish to specific my gratitude as a mum or dad for the fantastic training supplied to my two sons, Aidan and Christian. I had numerous causes to take delight within the caliber and compassion of our workers. I obtained to see our packages from a special vantage level, and my appreciation solely deepened.”
PUSD college board members mentioned they want Booker nicely and can miss him tremendously.
“On behalf of earlier board members, our academic group and ourselves we thank Randy for his arduous work, advocacy, perseverance and unwavering dedication to putting college students on the coronary heart of all his selections. To the board, he has been a dependable and candid advisor, sounding board and associate.
“He has served Piedmont for nearly 20 years with honor and integrity, and we're grateful for the chance to have labored with him and discovered from him. We want him the perfect on this subsequent a part of his skilled journey.”
Heather Frank, the Piedmont Schooling Basis’s govt director, added her sentiments to the information.
“Superintendent Booker has made fantastic contributions to Piedmont faculties, establishing the Wellness Middle, constructing new highschool buildings and main curriculum centered on twenty first century expertise. These enhancements in addition to his willingness to share info and be current at all types of fundraisers and occasions have made him a incredible associate for the Piedmont Schooling Basis. We are going to miss collaborating with him however want him all the most effective in his new district,” Frank mentioned.
Faculty board President Cory Smegal mentioned the board will launch an exhaustive seek for a brand new superintendent and appoint an interim superintendent for subsequent college 12 months. Booker will depart the district for the Peninsula on July 1.
Linda Davis is a longtime Piedmont correspondent. Contact her with information ideas or feedback at dlinda249@gmail.com.