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The Sunol Glen Unified School District Board of Trustees announced on Wednesday that it has found a finalist in the search to replace longtime superintendent and principal Molleen Barnes, according to the district.
In a recent press release, Shay Galletti — current Pleasanton Unified School District coordinator of early literacy and numeracy — was named as Barnes’ potential successor. The Sunol school board still needs to approve Galletti’s appointment. Her official start date has yet to be determined.
“I am honored to have been chosen as the finalist for the superintendent/principal position at Sunol Glen School District,” Galletti said in the press release. “I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated staff, students and community members to continue the tradition of academic excellence and student-centered learning that defines Sunol Glen School.”Â
Galletti has a long history with the Pleasanton school district as she began her career teaching fifth grade at Alisal Elementary and then Hearst Elementary schools before moving up to become a principal at Fairlands Elementary School from 2015 to 2019, according to her LinkedIn.
She was also the PUSD director of elementary education for some time before she became the coordinator of early literacy and numeracy.
The Sunol school board has been on the search for someone to replace beloved superintendent and principal Barnes ever since she announced that she will be retiring this past February.
In the past few months, the Alameda County Office of Education agreed to help pay about $13,000 for the hiring of a superintendent search firm, which the Sunol school board unanimously agreed during its March 12 meeting would be Leadership Associates, an employment firm based in Glendora — located in Los Angeles County.
The firm had an aggressive timeline to find someone by this summer, which had been met with some public doubt — but now after several interview sessions with the board and community forums with the search firm, it seems like Sunol might have its new superintendent and principal.
According to the Sunol press release, the school board has expressed its unanimous support for Galletti’s appointment, which the board is set to vote on during its June 18 board meeting.
“The three members of the Sunol Glen School Board are all, with consensus, thrilled with the opportunity to present Ms. Shay Galletti as our choice for finalist to serve as the next Superintendent/Principal of our impressive historic school,” Board President Ryan Jergensen stated in the press release.
In her 24 years of experience in education, Galletti is bringing a wealth of knowledge to the Sunol community, according to the press release. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education from Saint Mary’s College, which combined with her focus on literacy and her other personal qualities, made her the ideal candidate for the job in Sunol.
“Ms. Galletti brings an impressively deep base of knowledge and experience from elementary school teaching, leading a school as principal, district administration, and a focus on literacy and early childhood development,” Jergensen said. “With this and her outstanding personal qualities, it was clear that Ms. Galletti is the one to continue the momentum of educational excellence for which our school has come to be known.”
Apart from her work at PUSD, Galletti also worked almost 10 years at the Tri-Valley Regional Occupational Program, according to her LinkedIn, which offers under-represented, college-bound students an alternative to traditional schooling pathways. She taught the program in Livermore and Pleasanton, and according to the Sunol press release, she was in charge of evaluating and coordinating all of the district’s programs at certain schools.
According to the press release, the Sunol board believes Galletti’s leadership, dedication to student success and her focus on early childhood development were key factors in the selection process. The trustees also believe “her vision for enhancing literacy initiatives and fostering a culture of innovation aligns with the district’s goals for continuous improvement and community engagement.”Â
“The district looks forward to the leadership and vision that Ms. Galletti will bring to Sunol Glen School as it continues its tradition of academic excellence and student-centered learning,” Jergensen said.
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