Fond farewell to a great schools chief

Last week’s board meeting was Marge Gratiot’s final meeting as Los Altos School District superintendent. We’d like to point out that Gratiot has plenty to be proud of as she steps down after 18 years as head of one of the highest-achieving districts in the state.

Under her watch, the district soared to dizzying heights of success, reflected not only in top test scores statewide, but in outstanding, well-rounded educational programs. Surrounding herself with committed, top-notch administrators and teachers, Gratiot created an inclusive environment that fostered strong parent involvement. The outstanding education offered was something parents and the community bought into - literally and figuratively - and such support made the district even better.

The district’s success brought more community-minded residents to Los Altos, looking for a strong district - and safe place - to raise their kids. Many local realtors, citing the school district as the primary reason to buy in Los Altos, owe much of their success to Gratiot’s leadership.

While Gratiot’s communitywide impact is well known among those who have given even a cursory read to the Town Crier, her strength is also felt in more subtle ways. Her good humor and positive approach made staffers and community members feel at ease.

Not only was she approachable, she was available. Countless parents can attest to Gratiot’s quick response to issues with their children, issues she could just as easily have delegated to an assistant. The fact remains that Gratiot never ascended to an ivory tower as superintendent, but still acted like a teacher, regularly interacting with students and parents.

And, while other bureaucracies have had trouble with their unions, sometimes taking months to reach agreements (read: the city of Los Altos and its police department), bargaining between Gratiot’s team and district teachers has been congenial, with negotiations wrapped up in relatively short order. While there have been disagreements, Gratiot’s talent for diplomacy almost always guaranteed both sides left the bargaining table feeling good about themselves.

Has she made mistakes? Yes. But what shouldn’t be lost is that this superintendent has provided the highest quality education for generations of students. We wish her the best in her retirement and want to assure her beyond a reasonable doubt that she will definitely be missed.