This feels better

How nice to leave on your own terms. We’re thinking of Micaela Philpot, the principal at Sonoma Valley High School, who announced on Monday that she was stepping down at the end of this school year.
This is in sharp contrast to the commotion almost two years ago, when the district superintendent at that time asked Philpot to resign, after just a year and half as principal at the high school. The superintendent’s action, approved by the school board, caught the community by surprise, particularly coming as it did in the aftermath of a failed bond measure. However, the outpouring of support for Philpot wasn’t surprising, for she had been involved in public education here for 35 years and so had been known by more than a generation of Sonoma’s families. What did surprise again was the decision of the trustees to reverse the superintendent’s action, and their own, and ask Philpot to stay on. But they did, and she did, and she leaves now after seeing a full four-year generation of students through the high school.
It will be interesting to watch the hiring process. The present superintendent presumably is aware of the active interest the board takes in such personnel matters and so can be expected to involve the trustees. While there are certainly some excellent candidates already within the district, Philpot’s announcement so early in the year gives the district time to work with a personnel search firm to find other candidates, as well; we would concur with that direction.
Reflecting on Philpot’s four years, she has done an excellent job. The high school campus has been physically improved during her tenure, thanks in considerable part to generous donors to the high school boosters club. Philpot has introduced new measures that were controversial at the time, such as the prohibition on red and blue clothing on campus. We supported that effort when it was announced and it proved to be effective at reducing tensions there. Philpot gets credit for staying with her convictions. Similarly, the “tier” system, introduced just this fall and restricting the number of students authorized leave campus, has proved a useful tool.
We also recall how Philpot accompanied high school students when they marched on the Plaza on May Day several years ago, to protest immigration rules under the Bush administration. She recognized the potential for this as a learning opportunity and accompanied students on that march in order to ensure the integrity of that process
The demographics at the high school will continue to change in the years ahead, reflecting the changes in our Valley. More than half the students coming through the younger grades now are native Spanish speakers, and the high school will need to continue its evolution in order to accommodate their needs. There is presently an excellent advance placement track, with graduates going on to a variety of prestigious universities, and the school is actively working to implement programs such as AVID to create “small learning communities” (in the modern terminology) to assist students seeking that track to college.
Elementary and middle school principals aren’t as visible in the community as the high school principal is. Philpot was principal at Altimira Middle School when the overcrowding there was relieved by the opening of the Adele Harrison Middle School. Her vice-principal moved over to head the new school, and the collaboration between the two schools to ensure program continuity was to Philpot’s credit. She was also principal at Dunbar Elementary School, and perhaps readers will let us know of their own experiences, as parents of students at these schools when Philpot was the principal there.
This is a small community, and how we treat others is always important. Philpot has a strong record of service, and in our view, her experience and insight will continue to be a positive influence in Sonoma Valley.