In a surprise announcement in a Tuesday night meeting that otherwise focused on the Mandarin Immersion debate, the Palo Alto Unified School Board named Kevin Skelly, associate superintendent of the Poway Unified School District, a finalist in the search for a new PAUSD superintendent.

Skelly is the only finalist announced so far to replace Superintendent Mary Frances Callan who is retiring in June. The new superintendent is scheduled to begin work this summer.

Quoted in a press release sent out from Board President Camille Townsend, former PAUSD Superintendent and current Poway Superintendent Don Philips said of Skelly, “Kevin cares deeply about students and their overall academic growth and well being. He is a good fit for Palo Alto.”

According to the press release, the School Board and others will visit Skelly in Poway for a “validation visit” next Monday. Members of the Board, however, are pleased with Skelly’s experience and reputation.

“Kevin impressed the Board with his intellect, his excitement for education, his experience working with all kinds of youth, and his vision for the future,” Townsend said. “His reputation as a bright, forward thinking, good listener, and a creative problem solver came through to each of us as he talked about his excitement for educating his children in Palo Alto’s schools. His building on the many and varied strengths of the district came through to us as a commitment to all our students and our community.”

Skelly worked as principal of Saratoga High School for 11 years before he became the associate superintendent at Poway. He also has taught math to disadvantaged students in the Washington DC area, worked in Ecuador, and taught English and Spanish in Oakland, according to hte press release.

The Board has not indicated if there are other finalists for position nor has it stated when it will formally announce the next superintendent.