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The Dublin Unified School District filled out its administrative ranks for the 2025-26 academic year with a handful of hires in the spring and summer, including creating a new cabinet position, solidifying its last principal spot and bringing on a former school board trustee as a full-time employee.
The maneuvers started notably on May 13 when the DUSD Board of Trustees confirmed the hiring of longtime educator Kristin Pelham as assistant director of special education, effective in the ensuing school year.
Pelham, a Dublin resident who worked in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s special education program since 2000, served one elected term as DUSD’s Area 1 trustee from 2020 to 2024. She is also a former chair of the Tri-Valley Special Education Local Plan Area.
Superintendent Chris Funk called Pelham’s employment on the district’s leadership team “an outstanding win for Dublin Unified”.
“Her longstanding commitment to our students and families is profound,” Funk told the Pleasanton Weekly. “Her experience as a former DUSD Trustee gives her a deep understanding of our district’s culture, goals, and expectations. Even more, Kristin’s prior collaboration with our own Senior Director of Special Education, Rhea Murphy, in San Ramon has already demonstrated a powerful, results‑driven partnership.”
Also that night, the school board approved of two new elementary school assistant principals: Marvin Reed at Amador and Jonna Palmer splitting between Murray and Fredericksen.
Two weeks later, DUSD ended its final principal vacancy of the new year by hiring Theo Dykzeul to lead Cottonwood Creek TK-8 School. A math teacher originally, Dykzeul entered the administration ranks in 2017 by becoming assistant principal at American Canyon High School – where he worked until coming to Dublin.
The trustees also welcomed Jennifer Hunau, who worked at SRVUSD in various capacities since 2008, as a new assistant principal at Dublin High School.
On June 10, Funk and the board finalized plans to fill two key positions in the district office.
Owen Fish, the sitting senior director of facilities and bond administration, was promoted to chief facilities officer – a new cabinet-level position created in the wake of Thomas Moore retiring as assistant superintendent of facilities construction after nearly five years with DUSD.
Hayward schools administrator Bernardo Varela was named DUSD’s new director of human resources, succeeding Mike Williams who moved to Newark Unified School District as assistant superintendent of HR.
Jack Jeha was also elevated that night to senior project manager after being a project manager II in DUSD’s Facilities Department since 2019.
The final move was confirmed on Aug. 12 when Christan Daniels was formally hired as an assistant principal at Wells Middle School. She had been a culture and climate specialist for the district, and before that a school counselor in Dublin for nine years.
“Ms. Daniels brings a deep understanding of our community, a commitment to student well-being, and a proven ability to lead with compassion and purpose,” new Wells principal Monica MacDonald said in a letter to the school community.
No new upper administration arrivals or departures appeared on the last two school board meeting agendas, including Tuesday night.
