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RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood City School District
New Principals Hired for Selby Lane, Kennedy Middle Schools
When students arrive for the first day of school at Selby Lane
School and Kennedy Middle School in August, they will
be greeted by a new principal. Dana McDonald is the new
principal of Selby Lane School and David Paliughi is the new
principal of Kennedy Middle School.
“We are pleased to have found two extraordinarily strong leaders for
Selby Lane and Kennedy schools,” said Superintendent Jan Christensen.
“Principals are the instructional leaders of our schools, and both of these
candidates bring a legacy of strong student achievement and effective
leadership from previous positions. We are delighted that they chose to join
the Redwood City School District and are looking forward to working with
them in our mission to educate every child for success.”
McDonald joins the district from Aurora, Colo., where she is currently
principal of an elementary school. McDonald brings to Selby Lane extensive
instruction and administrative experience in K–8 education, with particular
expertise in special education and services for English language learners, gifted
and talented students, and students qualifying for free and reduced programs.
In accepting her new position, McDonald said, “I am honored to be given
the opportunity to join Selby Lane as an instructional and strategic leader. I
look forward to meeting students, staff, families and community members
and to continue great partnerships as well as build new ones. I am committed
to improving student achievement through building relationships with
students, staff, families and the community. Even the most challenging goals
can be met when we work strategically together with unwavering purpose.”
Selby Lane School serves more than 700 kindergarten through eighthgrade
students on a tree-studded campus in nearby Atherton. Instruction
at the school has concentrated on the core academic curriculum of English
language arts, social studies, math and science for all grades. Community
volunteers offer a Partners in Reading program, and the Selby Education Foundation
raises money to provide extra support to Selby Lane students and teachers.
Paliughi, the new principal of Kennedy, most recently served as program
manager and principal at Sanger Unified School District, and prior to that he
was the principal at Wilson Elementary School in Sanger. During the time
that Paliughi served as principal at Wilson Elementary, the school moved
Dana McDonald
Principal, Selby Lane School
David Paliughi
Principal, Kennedy Middle School
from a Year 4 Program Improvement School to a California Distinguished
School and won a Title I Academic Achievement Award. Besides serving as an
elementary school principal, Paliughi has been a continuation high principal,
a guidance learning specialist and a nationally certified school psychologist.
In accepting his new position, Paliughi said, “It is with eager anticipation
that I count down the next couple months until the students arrive at Kennedy
Middle School for the 2011–12 academic year. I am honored to be afforded
the opportunity to lead the Cougars and I am committed to ensure that
student learning occurs for every child every day, whatever it takes. I cannot
wait to meet the students, staff, families and community members with
continued partnerships, as well as foster new relationships.”
Kennedy Middle School is the largest comprehensive middle school in the
district and offers a full spectrum of academic options to meet the needs of
all students, such as high school geometry for advanced math students and
intervention classes for students who need extra help in language arts and
math. Kennedy also offers enrichment classes such as orchestra/band, web
page design and a student-produced morning TV show, and is known for
producing an outstanding musical each spring.
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