Currently assistant principal, Polito will replace Christopher Farmer, who becomes superintendent of a school district in Massachusetts.

For Polito, the new position is the highest rung on the ladder in the first—and virtually only—school she has ever worked for. She began as a student teacher at the school nine years ago. She simultaneously student-taught at Independence High School while earning her credential, and then landed a job teaching sixth-grade CORE classes at Redwood.

At the time there was a recession going on and few schools were hiring teachers. "There was one opening, and I was very, very lucky to get it," she said.

Polito went on to teach eighth-grade CORE, then became dean of students and four years ago landed the job of assistant principal. As her career developed, so did her personal life, with the addition of two children to the Polito family. Her 8-year-old daughter attends Argonaut Elementary School and her 2-year-old son is at University Preschool, both in Saratoga.

"I've really watched her blossom as a person," said close friend Pamela Dovala, dean of students at Redwood. Now, Dovala says, Polito "knows the environment and culture of Saratoga."

Polito's intimacy with Redwood and the community is precisely one of the reasons that she went for the position when Farmer tendered his resignation. "I felt like nobody knew the school as well as I did," she said. "And I felt like it was time. At a certain point, you feel like you're very invested in an organization and its people." Polito wanted more of a role in Redwood's decision-making processes and wanted to stay at the middle-school level.

Redwood, in particular, is a particularly unique place to teach. "The kids and the parents are just so supportive," Polito says, calling the students "awesome."

In addition, "Redwood is a very successful school in a very successful community," Polito said, and one of her priorities is "concentrating on the adolescent and what they really need as a whole child" in a community that emphasizes grades and accomplishments.

"I'd like to help give kids the sense of a bigger world and their own self-worth," Polito said, through relationships with adults and peers and school activities, along with school subjects.

"You just have to have a certain personality to deal with middle schoolers," Dovala said, adding that Polito has that personality. "She has a strong compassion for the children," combined with a great sense of humor—"The parents and the staff are thrilled that she is going to be principal," Dovala said.

"I'm excited. And a little nervous," Polito said. "Normally, under good circumstances, you have all your ducks in a row before the students." But although school ends this week, Polito says she feels things are still unsettled at Redwood, with construction going on and staffing uncertain due to state budget cuts, along with various transitions in the school district. "It's things you can't control."