Letter to District Parents Announce New Superintendent - by George Stratigos

April 17, 2006

Dear Parents and Neighbors:

I’m excited to announce that starting today a new superintendent has taken over the leadership of our public school district. Debra Bradley, who previously served as the superintendent of Lompoc Unified School District in Southern California, comes to our district with over thirty years of experience in education, beginning as a middle school teacher. For the last two years she has served as a consultant to both the California Department of Education and the Los Angeles County of Education/Division of School Improvement. In that role she provided expertise on instruction, assessment, professional development, school culture, and fiscal support to help raise the API scores of schools.

Superintendent Bradley will play a critical role in moving us toward our long-stated goal of Vision 900. She has proven throughout her career in education that academic success is the most critical aspect of school performance.

In the coming months and years, you will find that Debra Bradley is a hands-on leader. She is determined to meet staff, parents and community members during the coming weeks. Help her to do that by introducing yourself when you have the opportunity.

Interim Superintendent Mary Buttler, who will remain on at the district office on a part-time basis until July, has played an essential role in allowing us to make a seamless transition from one district administration to the next. As trustee Robert Fisher said. “Her good work and open heart kept us on track, both academically and in preparing our community for Measure I bond improvements. She deserves our deepest appreciation.”
Today, our pre-construction planning for a new middle school and a new K-1 pod are moving ahead of schedule and on budget because of her careful oversight.

Priority number one for the new superintendent is to assist the board in completing the search for a new principal who will replace Bayside and MLK’s retiring principal, Ruby Wilson. In the past five years we have seen our student test scores double. Our district is the second most improved in the entire state of California. Our new principal will have to play a vital role in seeing that our schools keep moving forward.

We still have a long way to go to reach the mandate we set for our district in Vision 900. When that goal is achieved we will have test scores equal to or better than any other district in Marin County. Ten years ago, that was an impossible goal. Today it is within our grasp.

The support of our community in supporting this vision has been deeply gratifying. We are confident that Debra Bradley’s innovative leadership is going to help carry us the rest of the way. Our best days are yet to come.

Please join us in welcoming Superintendent Bradley to our district!