En Español

May 1, 2020
Dear Community,

Today is School Principals Day, so let's be sure to celebrate the people who do the hard work of leading WCCUSD’s schools. WCCUSD’s school leaders have done a remarkable job holding their communities together through this COVID-19 pandemic. It has been seven long weeks since Principals have had the opportunity to share a physical space with their school communities. Yet through this crisis, school closures and distance learning, WCCUSD’s leaders have pushed hard to keep their communities together.

School leaders have contacted families to ensure they have what they need in this unfamiliar time. Principals from nine schools have helped feed their communities by distributing meals Monday through Friday at the student meal pick up locations. Richmond High School Principal Jose De Leon was interviewed in this LA Times article about how the shelter in place is affecting the Oilers community.

Riverside Principal Christine Hatcher was featured in mid April on KQED discussing home teaching tips for parents. Grant’s Farnaz Heydari, Dover’s Melynda Piezas, Peres Jawan Eldridge and Jaime Allardice and his team at Nystrom produced community connecting videos. Additionally, WCCUSD’s principals have been recognized regionally and nationally. Chavez’s vice principal Matthew Sloan was recognized as one of the Association of California School Administrators Region 6 administrators of the year. And, just yesterday, Pinole Valley’s Kibby Kleiman was named 2020 Junior Achievement Educator of the Year.

Principals throughout WCCUSD are doing similar extraordinary gestures for their communities and for that I am grateful. No one could have expected the 2019-2020 school to unfold in this current situation. WCCUSD’s school leaders have stepped up to ensure that we are still serving each and everyone of the students and families. So thank you. And please send a special shout out to your school principals today and everyday. Try sending a virtual hug today via email or social media. 

Finally, speaking of social media, I encourage you to join the West Contra Costa Administrators Association, the employee group representing principals and assistant and vice principals, in their first Facebook Live series premiere “60 Minutes in Faculty Lounge” with Riverside Principal Christine Hatcher as the host. Principal Hatcher will be talking with various WCCUSD community members about Distance Learning and ways to support one another during the pandemic.

Thank you again to WCCUSD’s school leaders.

In community,

Matthew Duffy
Superintendent