The word in the Castro community suggests a lack of transparency. Superintendents Goldman and Robinson sold us a load of goods when they organized sham meetings asking for our input for the new principal since it appears they already had some one lined up. (Fool us once, shame on us. Fool us twice, shame on you!)

From reading the article, this principal was hired chiefly because of her past experience with the explicit direct instruction movement being rammed down everyone's throat.

A "good fit"? Really? How will a principal from Soledad possibly relate to the Castro and Silicon Valley community? PACT gets a Harvard graduate, and we get a principal from a rural prison and agriculture community? Please, some one explain how this is even the prescription for Castro's Latino population? The unspoken comparison in this decision is just plain insulting to our Latino community if not racist to the core!

BTW does working on an MA now earn one the equivalent of having an MA? (Correct me if I'm wrong but most teachers at Castro have MAs and this principal doesn't!?!) And does being nominated for a Blue Ribbon award translate now as having received one? Something is not quite right here. The community deserves a better explanation, especially after Goldman and Robinson came pandering to us for our supposed "valued" input.

This principal better be able to walk on water to replace Dr. Crates. And why the need for an Assistant Principal especially if Castro loses one of its best teachers!?!? How about an extra teacher instead? From where does the money all of a sudden appear for such luxuries.

WHINER!

Castro got a Principal that has experience in Dual Immersion - there are not THAT many of those schools around.

Stevenson got a Harvard grad because he had experience in progressive education.

Are you just looking for stuff to complain about? REALLY! You are going to complain about getting a VP who was a teacher at the school - who already knows some of the parents & students, and really understands the culture & neighborhood. REALLY?

This just in. 2013 Blue Ribbon awards have been announced without mention of any school from Soledad. And the Master's degree is still a work in progress. All fluff, no substance.