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Haight school appoints new principal
West End elementary's new leader, Jan Steed, says she is unafraid of challenges
By Susan McDonough, STAFF WRITER
ALAMEDA CALIFORNIA -- Jan Steed, a former Peace Corps volunteer and assistant principal at Lincoln Middle School, will take over as principal of Haight Elementary this fall.
Former principal Neil Brooks resigned last month after two years at the West End school where many students speak limited English and nearly half come from low-income families.
Steed said she trained as a teacher in an urban district and is unafraid of the challenges at Haight.
"I believe this is going to be a big year," she told the school board Tuesday. The board unanimously approved her appointment.
Jan Steed traveled midway though her career to Poland as a Peace Corps volunteer to teach in a small village near the Russian border. The experience taught her "no matter what world we're in," teachers and administrators are "here to serve the children," she said.
Steed, 45, traveled midway though her career to Poland as a Peace Corps volunteer to teach in a small village near the Russian border.
The experience taught her "no matter what world we're in," teachers and administrators are "here to serve the children," she said.
Steed feels confident she will be able to work with teachers, who, she said, share her desire to make the school great.
With academic test scores below state standards, Haight is among the district's poorest performing grade schools.
"What we do in elementary school determines the rest of (the students') school career," she said.
Before coming to Lincoln, Steed was assistant principal at California High School in San Ramon for three years.
She will be the third principal at Haight in less than five years.
Teachers called for Brooks' resignation during his final year at the school, saying morale was at an all-time low because of his management style. In May, Brooks said his decision to step down was personal and not related to dissent with teachers or the district.
Plagued by high teacher turn-over and a large student population with complex learning barriers, Haight might be too tough a training ground for someone with no experience as an elementary school principal, said one teacher, who did not wish to give her name.
But school board member Janet Gibson, a former teacher, said Steed's upbeat attitude gives her confidence the new principal will do well.
Steed knows her limitations and will look to experienced teachers at Haight staff for guidance, Gibson said.
"She has a very warm and open personality," Gibson said. "I think the staff is going to like her."
Contact Susan McDonough at smcdonough@angnewspapers.com . Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL
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