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Superintendent Chris Van Schaack, a mainstay in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District in various roles across three decades, is stepping down at the end of June after two years at the helm of the district.
Announcing his planned retirement to district staff – whom he called his “a second family for nearly all my adult life” – as well as the public on Friday (March 29), Van Schaack told Livermore Vine that now is the right time in his life to scale back after a 37-year career in education.
“Not to be overly philosophical, but we only get so many trips around the sun, and after dedicating so much of my life to caring for the needs of others, I really want to be able to enjoy some of the things that make me smile and laugh – baseball games and travel and working in the yard and being able to spend time with family,” Van Schaack said by email Friday afternoon.
LVJUSD Board President Emily Prusso praised Van Schaack as “such an integral part of our district for so long that it’s hard to imagine him not being here,” in a press release by the district earlier Friday that also said the Board of Education plans to work as expeditiously as it can to hopefully have a new leader in place by the start of the 2024-25 academic year in July.
Now trying to find its third superintendent in four years, Livermore is among three districts in the greater Tri-Valley to be recruiting for a new superintendent this spring, joining the San Ramon Valley and Sunol Glen unified school districts.
“I’ll forever cherish the 30 years I’ve spent working alongside so many amazing educators and simply, good people,” Van Schaack said earlier in a statement released by the district.
“The best part about being here so long has been watching many of my former students return to our community and build amazing families and careers themselves,” Van Schaack added. “Knowing that I may have played some small role in their success is incredibly satisfying. Many now have children in our schools, and support us as parents, which is part of what makes Livermore so special.”
Prusso spoke highly about Van Schaack’s long career in Livermore, noting he “navigated us through so much, including challenges like the pandemic and state budget shortfalls, and has put us on a great path for continued success. We will greatly miss his wisdom and steady leadership, but respect and support his desire to enjoy other aspects of his life in retirement.”
Starting with LVJUSD as a high school teacher and baseball coach in 1994, Van Schaack would go on to rise through the administrative ranks, working as an elementary school principal and high school principal before moving to the district office as director of student services and special education.
He was promoted to assistant superintendent of administrative services in 2011 and then to deputy superintendent in 2017. The school board picked Van Schaack as the new superintendent in the summer of 2022 to succeed Kelly Bowers, who stepped down after 12 years in the top post.
“Chris takes a data-driven approach to decision making and has led our district with a clear, steady hand,” LVJUSD Board Clerk Kristie Wang stated. “We have truly benefited from his leadership and have been fortunate to have him hold so many important roles in our district. We wish him all the best.”
Looking ahead to filling the upcoming superintendent vacancy, district officials said the board would begin the search planning process soon.
“Once determined, a timeline of next steps will be made available on the LVJUSD website and will include an opportunity for parents, staff, students, and community members to share their thoughts on the characteristics and vision they want to see considered when selecting a new superintendent,” district officials said in Friday’s statement. “The Board hopes to have new leadership in place on or around July 1.”
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