Palo Alto teacher Katy Bimpson has been nominated to become the new principal of Hoover Elementary School, replacing Susanne Scott, who will retire in June.

Bimpson has taught in Palo Alto for 20 years, half of them at Hoover. For the past four years she has worked as a K-4 teacher at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital School, a little-known campus of the Palo Alto school district.

Since 1924, the district has operated the K-12 Hospital School, now located in two cheerful classrooms on the third floor of Packard Children's Hospital.

Bimpson also has taught at Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School and El Carmelo Elementary School, and has held teaching leadership positions in math, technology and staff development.

A native of Palo Alto and alumna of the school district, she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and is working toward a master's degree in educational administration at Santa Clara University.

"Ms. Bimpson is a talented and outstanding individual who will continue Hoover's success," Superintendent Kevin Skelly said. "We are grateful to the site interview committee members for their hard work."

Bimpson will be presented to the Board of Education for confirmation at its next regular meeting April 24.

Hoover, on Charleston Road, is one of Palo Alto's "choice" schools, drawing families from throughout the district who seek "a more structured alternative to elementary education." The school serves 416 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Scott, who announced her retirement in January, has been principal at Hoover since 2004.

— Chris Kenrick

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