Lowell High School assistant principal named HMBHS principal

Mary Streshly, who currently serves as Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction at Lowell High School in the San Francisco Unified School District, was appointed by the Cabrillo Unified School District Board of Education Thursday evening following a selection process that included a comprehensive file review and two rounds of interviews marked by strong school community involvement.

Streshly was selected from a field of twenty-nine applicants.  Her past work experience includes service as English Learner Coordinator/Bilingual Resource Specialist in the Sequoia Union High School District and thirteen years as an English and ELD teacher in the San Marcos Unified School District where she was named "Teacher of the Year" in 2004.  She is also a former coach (varsity softball and junior varsity basketball) and intercollegiate athlete.

At Lowell High School, Streshly was responsible for overseeing the academic program including master schedule design, chairing the Administrative Council, designing school wide staff development activities, facilitating the development of curriculum guides and common assessments, and co-authoring Lowell’s academic plan and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) reports.  Her earlier responsibilities at Sequoia included assessing, placing, and monitoring the academic progress of 750 English Learner students.

Streshly earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her Master’s degree in English Education and Literacy from San Diego State University.  In addition, she has completed the Principal’s Academy program and Aspiring Principals Institute (both sponsored by the Association of California School Administrators’ Association) and the New Principal Professional Development and Coaching program offered by U.C. Berkeley Educational Leadership Division.

"We had a number of strong applicants for this opening," Superintendent Rob Gaskill noted. "The field included both seasoned site principals and up and coming co-administrators.  In Mary, we think we’ve caught a rising star who will bring a strong academic background to Half Moon Bay High School and solid experience in working with English Learner students.  We have excellent programs in place at Half Moon Bay and we believe Mary has the potential to make a good thing even better."

Streshly’s contract takes effect July 1.  She will be following in the footsteps of Susan Million who chose to resign after nineteen years of service to the District (the last five as site principal) in order to pursue other educational leadership opportunities.