It may seem early, but this time of year is when we at the Alameda Unified School District often start hearing of and hiring for positions that we know will be vacant next fall. As such, we are sad to see the current Alameda High School principal, Angela Barrett, leave at the end of this year. However, we’re also excited to announce her replacement, Alex Harp.
Alex Harp, an experienced administrator, will join Alameda High School as its new principal next year. (photo courtesy of Alex Harp)
Mr. Harp currently serves as the principal of the East Bay Arts and Royal Sunset high school in the San Lorenzo Unified School District. Before that, he worked as a high school principal and assistant principal, a middle school principal and assistant principal, a human resources coordinator, an equity transformation consultant and a middle school teacher.
“We feel fortunate in having found an administrator with broad experience, commitment to equitable practices and skills as an instructional leader and educational thinker,” says AUSD Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi.
Mr. Harp received a bachelor of arts degree in French from UCLA and did his master’s work at Cal State East Bay. He earned his administrative credential through St. Mary’s College in Moraga.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Alameda High School,” he says, “and I look forward to learning, leading and working collaboratively with students, staff, families and the community to ensure positive and equitable outcomes for all.”
The AUSD takes a multiphased approach to hiring site administrators. This process begins with a paper screen of applications and a preliminary telephone interview and then proceeds to a panel interview with members of the school community. The final two steps are an interview with AUSD senior leadership and, finally, a one-on-one interview with the superintendent, who makes the final recommendation to the district’s Board of Education.
No one person or panel is assigned the exclusive selection of the final candidate. Instead, each phase helps to find different characteristics and competencies of leaders, including a candidate’s educational background, experience, community-building skills, understanding of district goals and values and vision for instructional leadership at the site.
Ultimately, the superintendent makes a decision based on who he or she thinks will best lead students and staff in achieving the best outcomes for all.
By the way, the AUSD regularly has open positions, including for paraprofessionals, teachers, substitutes, health office assistants, administrators, food service staff, custodians, office workers, athletic coaches and maintenance professionals. To see what’s currently available, please visit our job opportunities webpage at alamedaunified.org/departments/human-resources/job-opportunities.
Reach Susan Davis, the Alameda Unified School District’s senior manager for community affairs, at 510-337-7175 or SDavis@alamedaunified.org.