Ryan Haven is Santa Rita School's New Principal

Santa Rita has a new principal.

Meet Ryan Haven, who just completed his first year as a school principal at Crestmoor School.

"Ryan’s experience, knowledge of curriculum and his commitment to children and their families impressed the members of the interview teams," wrote Los Altos School District Superintendent Jeff Baier in a letter dated May 16.

Haven has been an elementary grade teacher in the Belmont-Redwood Shores and Hayward School districts for nine years. He has an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a Masters degree at San Francisco State University. " He is bilingual in Spanish and has a great interest in music," Baier wrote.

When Haven came on board to Crestmoor last year, he said he wanted to continue the legacy of academic excellence that Crestmoor has established and at the same time try to provide differentiated instruction for English Language Learners, which was part of his experience teaching in the Hayward Unified School District. These would be skill-sets that would be put to good use at Santa Rita School, which has a diverse student population, including English Language Learners. 

Baier cited letters he had received about Haven, including those praising him as "a collaborative innovator who values people, stands for children, and supports his team.”

He was praised for his high visibility in the school, greeting kids each morning and and visiting classrooms daily. 

Another said he “exemplifies the concept of a life-long learner who is always an advocate for innovative practices that are student centered and in the best interest of all children.”

Haven cited personal reasons for his upcoming departure from the San Bruno Park School District. When last week, Haven said he had been asked to run two elementary schools next year, which wouldn't allow him to responsibly balance his work life and his family.

"As a parent of young children, I must carefully balance what I take on professionally with my number one priority: playing an active role as a husband and father," Haven said in a letter May 16 addressed to parents. "In addition, I needed to consider which leadership capacity would enable me to be most effective in making an impact on students' lives. Given both of these factors, and despite the fact that I hate to leave any position after such as short time, I have decided that being the principal of one school would be the better decision for my family than being a principal of two."

He was interviewed by Santa Rita staff members, three parents, LASD principals Erin Green and Wade Spenader; and Assistant Superintendent Alyssa Gallagher. Finalists were interviewed by the principals and Baier, and then the Board of Trustees interviewed the finalist. 

Mr. Haven will begin his work immediately to provide a smooth transition betwen himself and McGonagle, Baier wrote. He will make his first appearance at the Friday Assembly on June 1 at Santa Rita and then be available to speak with parents afterwards in the multi-purpose room.