An IBM community relations manager with a background in education has been named the new principal of Addison School.
Jocelyn Garcia-Thome, since 2002 an education and community relations manager with IBM, will succeed John Lents, who is moving to head Duveneck School.
Garcia-Thome began her career in 1981 as a school psychologist. She was assistant principal of Monroe Middle School in San Jose in 1987 and became a principal in the Campbell Union School District in 1988.
In 1999 she moved to HP where she supervised college and university recruiting. She switched to IBM in 2002.
Garcia-Thome earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in school psychology from San Jose State University.
"I am extremely pleased to recommend Ms. Garcia-Thome to the board as the principal at Addison Elementary School," Superintendent Kevin Skelly said Wednesday.
"Jocelyn's experiences in K-12 education and in leading private sector technology firms were key factors that led the Addison principal selection committee to recommend her enthusiastically."
The Palo Alto Board of Education will consider Garcia-Thome's appointment at its June 22 meeting.
Comments
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 16, 2010 at 6:07 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Am I reading this correctly? The new principal of Addison has not been in K-12 education for over 10 years????? How is she qualified to be the PRINCIPAL now?!
Downtown North
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:07 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:07 pm
What a HORRIBLE decision, especially after the stellar job John Lents has done @ Addison. It is a complete reversal of the holistic, multiple intelligences, broad-based & multi-dimensional approach put in place by Mr. Lents. I just can not believe this has happened.
I am so glad my children are all promoted from Addison! What a disgrace.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:12 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:12 pm
"holistic, multiple intelligences, broad-based & multi-dimensional approach"
If you like that IBMers are the kings and queens of this sort of dilbert speech. I am sure she will do fine then.
Downtown North
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:22 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:22 pm
To: you're kidding, right?
Dilbert speech? You are neither pithy nor humorous, & betray your own insecurity. There are those of us (parents) who have sincere & deeply felt concerns related to the educational issues of both our own & the community's children. Please do not waste valuable post space if you cannot make an intelligent, coherent & sincere point. Coward!
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:59 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I'm amazed at the kind of nasty sniping that goes on here. Lots of anger simmering just below the surface...relax, folks!
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 16, 2010 at 8:12 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 8:12 pm
very funny. ;-)
Crescent Park
on Jun 16, 2010 at 8:19 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 8:19 pm
"Dilbert speech"
Excellent! I'm not going to be able to look at Mr. Lents without that image now!
Community Center
on Jun 16, 2010 at 9:55 pm
on Jun 16, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Hey there folks! Let's give the woman a chance!
She seems to be very involved in nonprofit boards that do education-y things. Online, to find out about her you have to search by her previous name, Zona.
Check out these links:
Web Link
Web Link
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Jun 17, 2010 at 9:39 am
on Jun 17, 2010 at 9:39 am
Addison is a very well run school, its not like she is going in facing huge challenges. She will have a different, unique perspective on education. She also will have something in common with many Addison parents since she has been involved with many non-profits.
Keep an open mind and welcome her.
Midtown
on Jun 17, 2010 at 10:01 am
on Jun 17, 2010 at 10:01 am
Is Skelly ok. Is it that difficult to find a qualified person to feel Mr. Lent's shoes? This is one of his worst decisions. I am wonder what this new hire was not working in the education field anymore? Could it be that she was not really that interested in working with kids?
Meadow Park
on Jun 17, 2010 at 10:17 am
on Jun 17, 2010 at 10:17 am
I think Mr. Skelly has said he has a strong bias toward internal candidates - witness the two biggest jobs at Paly and Gunn going to current employees even with a flood of outside experienced applicants. So I imagine the candidate here was chosen thoughtfully. Are the disappointed people here speaking with first-hand knowledge of this lady?
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 17, 2010 at 11:10 am
on Jun 17, 2010 at 11:10 am
She left the schools for more money.....seems logical to think that, but why is she coming back to the schools? maybe the tech firms didn't offer the challenges and rewards that a school can....Good for her and Good Luck with the Addison parents.
Crescent Park
on Jun 17, 2010 at 1:59 pm
on Jun 17, 2010 at 1:59 pm
"Stellar job" by Mr. Lents? While he may have done some good at Addison, I heard first hand about many complaints [portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] Give the new principal a chance. She may be a wonderful human being who does a great job, and who has sincere empathy for the kids and their families.
Crescent Park
on Jun 17, 2010 at 2:37 pm
on Jun 17, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Hey, John, about the same chance you're giving Mr. Lents? You heard something from somebody about some action that you can't describe and don't really know about but you're still willing to post a derogatory comments on a public forum about it?
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 17, 2010 at 3:17 pm
on Jun 17, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Mr. Lents isn't being transferred - he wanted a new challenge and Duveneck will certainly be that! They have gone thru quite a few principals in the last few years (the latest one is being promoted I believe).
The "hurtful" things you have "heard" about are probably normal, old discipline. I know there were parents at Addison who believe their children could do not wrong (I'm sure that is true at all schools) and could not believe that their child's actions had consequences.
Perhaps the new principal left to make more money or a for a new challenge and is returning because she missed kids. I know people who made their "fortune" and then got teaching degrees because they love children.
Lets give her an opportunity to prove herself, she may be wonderful!
Fairmeadow
on Jun 18, 2010 at 8:49 am
on Jun 18, 2010 at 8:49 am
hope it's not like the fairmeadow one-year disaster of 2 years ago...
Midtown
on Jun 18, 2010 at 4:35 pm
on Jun 18, 2010 at 4:35 pm
I'm not a big Skelley fan, but the hiring decisions I have seen so far have mostly been very good. The "selection committee" recommended her highly, that probably means the parents or parent representatives think she's a good fit.
She sounds like a really experienced educator with a breadth of good experience in the world. I don't see anything lightweight or worrisome about her description. It all comes down to the person and whether she is a good match for the school.
Welcome, Ms. Garcia-Thome!
Crescent Park
on Jun 22, 2010 at 12:20 pm
on Jun 22, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I know quite a lot about it actually, and saw plenty of proof first hand. I'm validating their experiences, however unpopular.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 22, 2010 at 1:07 pm
on Jun 22, 2010 at 1:07 pm
John - as a walter hays parent, it would be a little hard to see "first hand" things that happen at addison.
Greene Middle School
on Jun 22, 2010 at 3:23 pm
on Jun 22, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Lat's hope she didn't just snow the committee and Superintendent. Sometimes those who interview well don't do so well on the job. Apparently, Larry Thomas (1 year at Duveneck) looked good on paper and in person but was a huge mistake. Eric Goddard (Fairmeadow) and Kathleen Meagher (Duveneck) are principals who relate well to children AND parents. Let's hope for that.