Petaluma school district names new Superintendent

The Petaluma City Schools District has chosen a man with 25 years experience in all phases of education to be its next superintendent.|

The Petaluma City Schools District has chosen a man with 25 years experience in all phases of education to be its next superintendent.

Gary Callahan, 50, was introduced at Tuesday night’s school board meeting as the person chosen to replace Steve Bolman, who is leaving the district at the end of the school year.

Callahan comes to Petaluma from the Roseville City School District where he is currently the assistant superintendent of educational services.

Callahan was chosen by the board after a two-month search that did not utilize a professional search firm or a search committee, but according to school board members, included extensive input from teachers, school administrators and the community on the qualifications they sought in their next superintendent.

The board was criticized by several school teachers who felt they were excluded from the process, but board members said they tried to include as many different segments of the education and entire community as possible.

“We put a lot of effort into hearing from different stakeholders in the schools and the community,” said Board President Mike Baddeley.

Messages left with the Petaluma Federation of Teachers seeking comment on the new superintendent were not returned Wednesday afternoon.

Board members said Callahan met the qualifications they heard the community wanted in a superintendent. Board member Mary Schafer said it was a combination of qualities that swayed the board toward Callahan.

“We were impressed with his focus on the students, his leadership and interpersonal skills. We felt he was the best leader for our students,” she said.

“He has a depth of experience in dealing with all aspects of the challenges facing education today,” Baddeley said. “He is an educator and an innovator and has great communication skills.”

Callahan’s experience in education spans from preschool to high school. He began his career in education in a state-funded preschool.

Prior to his four-year tenure at Roseville, Callahan was the director of secondary education, interventions, assessment and K-12 professional development for six years in the Woodland Joint Unified School District.

He has also been a secondary principal and vice principal at Douglass Junior High School. He has been an adjunct instructor at Teacher’s College of San Joaquin and the Placer County Offices of Education. Prior to that, he was an elementary teacher at Gibson Elementary School in Woodland.

He also established a non-profit to enhance the lives of low-income youth. Callahan said he was attracted to the Petaluma City Schools because of the school district’s commitment to the students.

“The students in the district have a wide opportunity and accesses to different programs and pathways,” he said. “The first thing is to make contact with district administrators, teachers, principals, parents - really all the stakeholders - and make certain we have common building blocks. It is really important that I have a solid understanding of all the great things that are taking place in the district.”

Callahan said he is aware of the current contentious contract negotiations between the district and the Petaluma Federation of Teachers.

“The first thing is to gather information,” he said. “There is always common ground. These situations work themselves out. The first step is to learn all I can about what the issues are, and get updated on where the process stands.”

Although funding for education is improving because of the turnaround in the state’s economic condition, Callahan acknowledges budgeting can be a challenge.

“While school financing can be very confusing, the new Local Control Funding Formula is very streamlined,” he said. “We are all hoping the folks in Sacramento will look to passing some sort of school construction bond.”

The new superintendent currently lives in Davis with his wife Kerry and three children. He said his family is active and participates in a wide variety of recreational sports.

(Contact John Jackson at johnie.jackson@arguscourier.com.)

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