New administrators named for Crossroads, Casa, Kenilworth

The Petaluma Schools District continues to fill vacancies in its school administration staffs.|

The Petaluma Schools District continues to fill vacancies in its school administration staffs.

The district this week announced that Jon Tallent has been hired as new principal for Crossroads Community Day School.

His hiring follows an earlier announcement that Sharon Howell has been hired as new assistant principal at Casa Grande High School and Amy Schluetter will be new interim assistant principal at Kenilworth Junior High School.

Tallent has been a teacher in Petaluma City Schools since 1999, having taught at Petaluma High School, Casa Grande High School, San Antonio High School and Kenilworth Junior High School. Most recently he was at Petaluma High School where he taught physical education and served as department chair. Tallent has also served on the Student Attendance Review Board, been a Petaluma Learning Network lead teacher, WASC Focus Group chair, BTSA Support Provider, and Administrative Designee.

In 2013, Tallent authored and received a PEF Major Impact Grant for “Archery in Schools.”

Tallent graduated with a degree in physical education from California State University, Chico. He earned his administrative services credential as well as a Master’s Degree in educational administration from Sonoma State University.

He lives in Rohnert Park with his wife, Cori, and son, Masato. In his spare time, he trains in Kuk Sool Won, a traditional Korean martial art, and enjoys sports, hiking with his family, and just being outdoors.

Howell has been a counselor at Casa Grande for 14 years and is currently the lead counselor.

During her tenure at Casa, Howell was an adjunct counselor and instructor for Santa Rosa Junior College for seven years. She has also served as an early intervention specialist and teacher for Easter Seals. She was a substitute teacher for Santa Rosa City Schools.

Prior to coming to California, Howell was a school board campaign manager, founding member of a pro-education grassroots organization, parent involvement coordinator and chairperson for the Parent Advisory Council for the White Bear Lake Public Schools in Minnesota.

Howell was awarded her Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and her Multiple Subject Credential from UCLA. She received her Master’s Degree in counseling and her Administrative Services Credential from Sonoma State University.

Howell was instrumental in restructuring the counseling department at Casa Grande to one that is comprehensive, data-driven and integrated with the instructional programs such as its small-learning communities. She has aligned the counseling department with the American School Counselors Association’s National Counseling Standards. She has also been the liaison with Santa Rosa Junior College in creating the Jump Start to College program.

Howell enjoys spending time outside camping, gardening, and visiting the Sonoma County coast. She also enjoys making colored glass jewelry.

Howell has a daughter living in San Francisco and a son living in Merced. She currently lives in Penngrove with her husband, Robert.

Schlueter has been an educator since 1997, having taught at both Petaluma Junior High School and Petaluma Adult School. Most recently, she has been at Piner High School where she taught English, film studies, and computers.

This past year, Schlueter was a Teacher on Special Assignment at Piner High School, working on technology integration. She was responsible for coordinating cross-curricular teams to attend professional development in educational technology and for conducting weekly trainings on new digital media.

She has also served as a freshman transition team facilitator, member of school Site Council, and was an elected representative on the Santa Rosa City Schools Common Core Network.

Schlueter graduated with degrees in English and psychology from Sonoma State University. In addition, she earned her Administrative Services Credential as well as a Master’s Degree in Education Technology Leadership, also from Sonoma State University.

In her spare time, Schlueter enjoys swimming and playing tennis.

She lives in Santa Rosa with her husband, Cliff, and children, Noble, a junior at Casa Grande High School, Raven and Castle.

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