Photograph by Robert Scheer
Foothill School Principal Louise Levy (left) and incoming principal Helen Sullivan (right).
By Tim Persyn
After conducting a statewide search, the Saratoga Union School District last week selected Helen Sullivan of Los Banos, Calif., as the new principal for Foothill School.
Sullivan was chosen to replace outgoing principal Louise Levy, who was recently appointed as the district's director of special services.
The selection of Sullivan was announced during a July 22 meeting of the district's Board of Trustees. After board president Cindy Ruby made the announcement, Superintendent Mary Gardner told Sullivan, "We're very excited to have you as a member of our team."
Sullivan holds a doctorate in education from USC. Her 20 years of experience in the education field include work as a teacher, principal and administrator. Her last position was as a professor in the education department at Chapman University in Orange, Calif.
Gardner said Sullivan brings to Foothill strong experience in working with new teachers. This experience is important because Foothill employs the bulk of teachers entering the district.
Sullivan said she learned about the city of Saratoga through cultural events she attended in the area. She decided she liked the area so much that she would apply for the Foothill position.
After nine years as principal of Foothill School, Louise Levy will move to the district office to fill the newly-created position of director of special services. Levy's new role will include directing SUSD's special education program and English as a Second Language/bilingual programs and assisting in grant writing.
Levy starts her new position in August.
Levy said she is looking forward to the challenge of her new position, although she explained that leaving the Foothill campus was a difficult decision. She described Foothill as a "home away from home."
"I get so emotional just talking about it. I well up with tears," she said. "I'm filled with memorable moments with students and staff."
However, she added that, after reflecting on the possibilities of her new job, she is excited about the new opportunity. "I'm not going far. I'll be giving equal attention to all schools [in the district]," she said.
The Board of Trustees decided to play a rather prominent role in the hiring process of the Foothill principal. It is typical for school boards to take a "hands-off" approach to hiring principals, allowing the superintendent, parents and other district staff to make the decisions, but some of the current board's members joined district Superintendent Mary Gardner in interviewing the finalists.
However, the board made no official decision on who would replace Levy until it approved the superintendent's recommendation of Sullivan following the interview process.
"It added a new level of confidence," said board member Peggy Koen on the increased role of the board in the selection process.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, July 31, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved