New principals named at San Antonio, Kenilworth

The Petaluma City Schools District has appointed a new principal for San Antonio and Valley Oaks high schools and an interim principal for Kenilworth Junior High School.

Rebecca Lofton is the new principal for the alternative high schools, while Bennett Holly will take over at Kenilworth.

Lofton has been the principal of Crossroads Community School for the past two years. Before that, she had been a social science teacher at San Antonio for five years, where she taught world history, economics, sociology, media studies and global studies.

Prior to joining the San Antonio faculty, she taught AP and college prep U.S. history at Petaluma High School.

In her role as Crossroads principal, Lofton worked closely with the other alternative education principals. Together with current principal Rusty Sims and Carpe Diem/Sonoma Mountain principal Greg Stevenson, she helped develop a districtwide vision and best practices for alternative education students.

Being a life-long Petaluma resident, schooled in the Petaluma District, Lofton said she is thrilled to be able to continue her career as an educator for Petaluma City Schools.

Lofton was awarded her bachelor’s degree in history, her single subject credential, her master’s degree in education and administrative credential at Sonoma State University.

Holly has been the assistant principal at Kenilworth Junior High School for the past year and was the assistant principal at Petaluma High School for the previous three years. Prior to that, he had been a teacher for Petaluma City Schools for five years, teaching physical education and sports medicine at Petaluma High School. He also spent the 2010-2011 year at Casa Grande. teaching two sections of human interaction.

Holly was awarded his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, administrative services credential, and master’s degree in education with an emphasis in special education law from Sonoma State University.

Holly lives in Petaluma with his wife, Jacqueline, and 5-year-old twins, Noah and Josie. When he has time, he enjoys surfing and playing the bagpipes.