Ron Everett, who has worked in the education system as a janitor, pre-school teacher and high school principal before eventually rising to the post of district administrator, will be leaving the Petaluma City Schools District in June.
Everett is the second high-ranking administrator to announce his departure from the district within the last week. District superintendent Steve Bolman has also announced he will be leaving the district in June.
The resignations come at a time when the school district is embroiled in a contentious contract dispute with the Petaluma Federation of Teachers. Both men are members of the district negotiating team, although neither indicated that the negotiations had nothing to do with their decisions.
“I have decided that I am ready for the next journey in my life,” Everett said in making his announcement. “If I count student teaching and substitute teaching, I have spent more than 30 years with Petaluma City Schools.”
Everett started in education as a janitor and began teaching in a pre-school. “I know education from the ground up,” he quipped.
He began in the Petaluma City Schools District as a student teacher at Casa Grande High School and then taught English at Casa for 10 years, serving five years as activities director. He was assistant principal at the school for four years and principal for five before moving to the district administration in educational services. He has been the director of human resources for the district for the past five years.
For those last few years, Everett not only handled district personal matters, but made it a point to become familiar with the district schools visiting each at least twice a month in addition to handling a number of other administrative duties.
He said he is looking forward to joining his wife in retirement and spending more time with his four grandchildren.
He is prohibited from working in education for six months, but hopes eventually to work with aspiring secondary school principals to help prepare them for those positions.
He said that, while his decision is firm, it is also a little bitter sweet.
“I have loved being here,” he said. “It is a great place to work. There have certainly been challenges, but I am thankful for everything that the district has provided for me and will miss much of that, particularly the wonderful people I have worked with here.”
Bolman said the district will miss Everett. “He has done an outstanding job,” the superintendent said. “He has made his department more service oriented, and into a department that is respected throughout the district.”
Schools Board President Mike Baddeley said, “He has always been very fair and professional.”
(Contact John Jackson at johnie.jackson@arguscou rier.com)
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