By Traci Newell
Los Altos School District officials have been busy this month filling 13 teaching positions and two principal posts for the 2006-2007 school year.
The district gave final offers to teaching candidates Friday after having watched them in classrooms, Superintendent Tim Justus said. Earlier this month, district principals interviewed the prospective teachers.
“We are very excited to see what the teachers will look like in the district next school year,” Justus said.
Teacher retirements and leaves of absence led to the open positions. In addition, Justus said, the district is adding one class, requiring one additional teacher.
Justus said that he takes recommendations from district principals and staff when hiring new teachers.
The district needs to fill two principal positions because of the death of Blach Intermediate Principal Arthur Harris and the retirement of Santa Rita Elementary Principal Stephen Peck. Former Covington principal Leslie Crane is moving to Blach, creating a vacancy at Covington.
Prospective principals go through a series of interviews, starting with a committee of parents, teachers and classified staff. The second round of interviews is with district principals, assistant superintendents and Justus. The final round is in front of the board of trustees and Justus. After the interviews, candidates visit their prospective schools to talk to parents and students.
“We try to get a feeling for the learning environment that has been created by the candidate,” Justus said.
Interviews for the principal positions begin Monday. Justus said the district hopes to visit the final three or four candidates’ campuses the last week of May.
Most of the candidates being interviewed have four to six years’ experience, Justus said.
“We have a good variety of individuals who are wanting to get into administrative education and those with previous experience,” he said, adding that there is also a candidate from the district interested in moving into an administrative position.
Justus said he was tentatively planning to present the new teachers and principals to the board for a vote June 5.
