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It was an emotional Pleasanton school board meeting last week for many trustees, colleagues and family members who fought back tears as they formally recognized Steve Maher for his 53 years of service as a teacher, administrator and school board member.
Even though the Dec. 13 meeting was Maher’s last on the board, those who spoke said his legacy will continue to live on through all the work he has done for the community and through all of the people he has helped — students and faculty alike.
“Steve, you have touched the lives of thousands of families and your legacy of service has been felt and will be felt by generations of Pleasanton students, their family and our community,” Interim Superintendent Maurice Ghysels said during the early part of the meeting.
Maher, who has been on the board since 2016 but did not run for reelection this year, said while he still plans on providing input in future board meetings — as a community member sitting in the audience — he is excited to spend more time with his wife, Tina, and his grandchildren.
“Tina, thank you for always being there for me. Now it’s my time to be there for her and my grandkids,” Maher said. “Now, I’ll be able to spend my time with my grandkids and my daughters.”
Maher started off his career at PUSD as a third grade teacher at Camp Park School in 1971 after having served as a Chief Corpsman at the Naval Hospital during the Vietnam War, according to the district. Camp Park School was eventually relocated to what is currently Fairlands Elementary School.
After 10 years of teaching elementary school, he simultaneously took on the role of principal at Vintage Hills Elementary — after that he served as the principal for Alisal Elementary, Donlon Elementary and Pleasanton Middle School before retiring as the first-ever principal of Hart Middle School in 2010.
He later came out of retirement to help out as a substitute principal for both Walnut Grove Elementary and Harvest Park Middle School and as a vice principal for Fairlands, Hearst Elementary and Amador Valley High School before being elected to the school board in 2016.
Shay Galletti, Maher’s daughter who is currently the principal and superintendent at Sunol Glen School, reminisced about the times she and her sister would help their dad pick weeds at Donlon and how much Maher has been a role model to not just them — all three of his daughters work in education — but the entire community as well.
“Everything that we do in education is from watching my dad,” Galletti said. “Your legacy will live on through your children.”
Like Galletti, Board President Mary Jo Carreon was also choked up with emotions during her remarks to Maher because of how much she learned from him over the years.
“You’ve been a role model for me,” Carreon said. “Your knowledge, your expertise, your compassion and your love … I’m going to miss you.”
Maher said at the end of his recognition that he was overwhelmed by the support he felt throughout that portion of the meeting and that it has been an honor to serve PUSD.
“It’s just been a nice ride,” he said.
