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A vice principal of two Pleasanton elementary schools has officially parted ways with the district so that she could take on the position of principal in Piedmont.
Amy Fry, now-former vice principal of Mohr and Hearst elementary schools, was first named as the new principal for Wildwood Elementary School during the Piedmont Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting on March 12. During the meeting, she thanked the board for the opportunity to lead the school.
“I am so looking forward to working with the Wildwood community,” Fry said.
According to the personnel document in this week’s Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Directors meeting agenda, Fry’s resignation was effective as of June 6. Her first day at the new school district is set to be July 1.
Pleasanton Unified director of communications Patrick Gannon told the Weekly that the district has plans to fill the vacancy left by Fry’s departure and that the district is thankful for the vice principal’s service over the years.
“We’d like to thank Amy Fry for her dedication and service to our PUSD community and wish her all the best in her new role as principal,” Gannon said.
Fry has been in public education for over two decades serving as the vice principal for both Pleasanton schools, a literacy coach and response to intervention coordinator at Oxford Elementary School in Berkeley and a classroom teacher at Malcolm X Elementary School in Berkeley.
According to a press release from the Piedmont school district, Fry’s experience and expertise in “literacy instruction, curriculum development, and inclusive education has shaped her commitment to equity and excellence in education.”
In Pleasanton, she was instrumental in fostering inclusive learning environments, according to the press release. She also helped lead staff development, oversaw special education meetings, facilitated intervention services and collaborated with educators and families in order to support students’ success.
“Her ability to analyze data and implement targeted academic and behavioral interventions stood out as one of many examples of her expert support of student success,” according to the Piedmont press release. “Passionate about fostering collaborative and student-centered learning environments, she values strong relationships with students, staff, and families.”
According to her new school district, Piedmont underwent a “rigorous and comprehensive” selection process before choosing Fry. The school district said it received 28 applications which were ultimately dialed down to five candidates who went through the first round of interviews.
From there, two finalists were chosen to move on to the second round of interviews and a separate meeting with Piedmont Unified School District Superintendent Jennifer Hawn.
“We are thrilled to bring an educator with Amy’s depth of experience to Piedmont Unified School District,” Hawn told the Weekly. “Amy’s collaborative leadership and academic focus are just what Wildwood Elementary School needs to ensure every student has an opportunity to thrive.”
According to the Piedmont press release, the interview panels were diverse and included parents, teachers and staff. The interview process, which Fry said she admired, also involved a writing task and a range of “scenario and value-based questions, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation of each candidate’s suitability.”
“Just want to thank you so much for this opportunity,” Fry said during the March 12 meeting. “The representation of all stakeholders on that panel was mildly intimidating but such a clear sign of what’s important in this community and made it feel much more somewhere where I wanted to be knowing that everyone has a voice here and that we are going to be a collaborative entity where we’re all going to be working together.”
