Jun 23, 2008

School board to make appointments

Feinberg and Bussmann may start new posts in July

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

Two familiar faces are expected to take on new roles this week in the Palo Alto Unified School District.

On Tuesday night, Superintendent Kevin Skelly will recommend that the board of trustees appoint Todd Feinberg as assistant superintendent of Palo Alto High School and Mary Bussmann as principal of Walter Hays Elementary School.

Both candidates were chosen from among two finalists for each position and will assume their respective posts on July 1 once appointed. Feinberg was selected by Paly teachers and administration, while a special Hays Principal Selection Input Committee made up of administration, staff and parents chose Bussmann. She'll be replacing Carol Piraino, who moved to Corte Madera Middle School in Portola Valley, and Feinberg will take over for Chuck Merritt, who stepped in as principal at El Carmelo Elementary School.

Skelly said both candidates have strong links to the district and their respective schools. Bussmann's children attended Hays, and she started her teaching career at the elementary school in 1999. She went on to teach at Ohlone Elementary School for six years before being appointed assistant principal of JLS Middle School in 2005. Bussmann has a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Boston College; she received her teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur University and went on to obtain a master's degree in education administration from Santa Clara University.

"Bussmann knows the Hays community very well," Skelly said.

Feinberg has not only taught in the district, he also graduated from Paly. He started his career in 2001 at JLS, where he worked with emotionally disturbed students, Skelly said. In 2005, Feinberg was appointed dean of students at Ralston Middle School in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, and in 2007, he was promoted to assistant principal of Ralston.

One thing that stood out during Feinberg's interviews, Skelly said, was his realization that teaching is his true passion. Feinberg was pursuing a law career when he decided to make the switch.

Besides receiving a law degree from UC-Hastings College of the Law, Feinberg also has a bachelor's degree in business administration and economics from the University of Puget Sound and a master's degree in education administration from Santa Clara University.

The Palo Alto Unified School District Board meets Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., in the administration building board room, 25 Churchill Ave.



E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.