The Scotts Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees announced June 29 that it has hired Penny Weaver, an assistant superintendent in San Mateo, to lead the district.
Weaver follows Dr. Susan Silver, who retired from education June 30 after six years as Scotts Valley’s superintendent.
The Scotts Valley Education Association, Scotts Valley’s teacher’s union, was involved in the selection process and came away a positive impression of Weaver.
“We met with many of the people she works with, and the consistent message about her was that she works very, very hard,” said new SVEA president Mike Hanson, who’s also an International Baccalaureate biology teacher at Scotts Valley High School. “Her people skills shown through, and she seemed to be very personable.
“Parents and teachers would enter her office with a complaint and always seemed to be less upset when they left.”
Hanson noted that Weaver seemed highly knowledgeable about schools, and he looks forward to negotiating with her during the next bargaining period.
“We are awaiting working with her with open arms and having a really positive relationship,” Hanson said.
Weaver’s appointment is effective July 18. She was selected from a pool of 18 applicants, according to board president Larry Beaman.
Weaver has served as assistant superintendent for educational services and personnel for Belmont-Redwood Shores School District in San Mateo County. She joined the 3,200-student, kindergarten-through-eighth-grade district in July 2007. Scotts Valley has about 2,500 students in kindergarten through 12th grades.
Previously, Weaver served six years as assistant superintendent for educational services for the Livingston School District in Merced County. She was principal of Winton Middle School and assistant principal of Campus Park Elementary School, as well.
She has also spent time in the classroom. She developed curriculum and taught electives at Livingston Intermediate School and taught first grade for four years at Dos Palos Joint Union School District in Merced County.
Weaver received her Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from California State University, Stanislaus, in 1982 and her master’s in educational administration from Fresno Pacific University in 1992. To prepare for a superintendent position, she completed the Association of California School Administrators’ yearlong superintendent academy in 2010.
Beaman reported that before hiring Weaver, members of Scotts Valley’s board visited Belmont-Redwood Shores School District to meet with district staff, bargaining groups, the parent-teacher association and community members. Similar to what Hanson said, the comments they heard were positive and supportive regarding Weaver’s leadership and relationships with others.
They also found she has an affinity for working with people and a style of positive communication and transparency in practice.
