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The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice

The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice

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Psychology teacher selected as Paly assistant principal

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Paly psychology teacher Kathleen Laurence will be recommended to the school board as the assistant principal next year. – Jake SternSupt. Kevin Skelly will recommend psychology teacher Kathleen Laurence as assistant principal to Palo Alto High School, according to a press release from the Palo Alto Unified School District.

“I am extremely pleased to recommend Ms. Laurence to the Board as the Assistant Principal at Palo Alto High School,” Skelly said. “Kathie’s long history at Paly will be beneficial in her new role. She will be a valuable new member of the Paly administration and to our administrative leadership team in the district.”

PAUSD will submit her application to the school board for formal approval on June 22.

In addition to teaching psychology since she joined Paly in 1995, Laurence has served as a career adviser, Regional Occupational Program coordinator, teacher adviser and site testing coordinator throughout her tenure.

Laurence looks forward to working with the school from a different perspective, as she switches from the role of a teacher to that of an assistant principal.

“I can implement things from a different perspective from the classroom and still have a perspective,” she said. “It’s just a different way of to help students.”

Because the administration will welcome two new members next year, Laurence believes that it must be especially vigilant about the new Paly environment.

“I think it’s important for a new administration to see what’s around them,” she said.

Incoming Paly principal Phil Winston said that he looks forward to working with Laurence.

“I am thrilled to have such an outstanding teacher from Paly joining our administrative team as an assistant principal,” Winston said in a press release on Thursday. “Kathie’s [Laurence’s] experience in working collaboratively with students, staff, and our community will be an asset to Palo Alto High School. I am eager and look forward to working with Kathie as part of our administrative team.”

With her experienced, 15-year career in education, Laurence believes that her new position on the administration has come to be the next step in the culmination of her work. She believes that her new position on in the administration will enhance her long experience in education.

“I have been teaching for 15 years, and I have got a lot of skill sets. Before that, I was an athletic trainer,” Laurence said. “Over time you say, ‘I am ready for whatever the next step is,’ and that seemed like the natural progression to go from teaching to administration.”

Last week, Skelly also selected district psychologist Wesley Cedros as the new assistant principal for Gunn High School.

“I am very happy that Wes is joining the Gunn community as an assistant principal—he brings many skills with him to this position,” incoming Gunn Principal Katya Villalobos stated in a press release. “He has the ability to quickly establish positive relationships with students, staff, and families. Wes will be a great complement to our administrative team.”

Editors-in-Chief Lucas Chan and Chloe Chen contributed reporting to this story.

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