Redwood Heights Neighborhood News

by Denise Davila

Sara Stone, the new principal at Redwood Heights Elementary School, with husband Tom and children Ezra (left) and Jamon (right). Photo by Nick Lostracco.

Welcome, Principal Stone

It was a pleasure to sit down with Sara Stone, the new principal at Redwood Heights Elementary School. Highly dedicated to the community and public education, Ms. Stone and her husband Tom are both Oakland natives. Ms. Stone began her career as an elementary school teacher. After playing a major role in securing a grant from the Annenberg foundation to support reform initiatives, she soon transitioned out of the classroom into a communitywide school leadership position, which began helping other schools with reform projects, too.'

While her work with different schools was rewarding, Ms. Stone longed to personally lead a project at one site from beginning to end. Thus, she enrolled in graduate school to earn her administrative credential from California State University East Bay. She subsequently helped to launch RISE Community School on the former campus of Highland Elementary in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Oakland, and became its first principal. She also assisted with the leadership of New Highland Academy, which shares the same school campus.'

After her work with RISE, Ms. Stone left Oakland for Boston, where Tom was offered a "dream job" in his career as a video game animator. In Boston, she took up the role of principal at Joseph P. Manning Elementary School in the Jamaica Plain section of the city. Missing their roots, however, the Stones returned to Oakland to raise their two sons, Jamon (7 years) and Ezra (17 months).'

"I am very fortunate to be at Redwood Heights [R.H.]," Ms. Stone says of her return to Oakland Unified School District. She says her new role as principal of R.H. feels like "a natural progression from RISE and Manning," and adds that she admires the work started at the school and shares a "parallel vision" of education. Ms. Stone's vision of education is not only focused on supporting the "whole child," but also on engaging the whole family and community in learning, particularly through the school's integrated fine arts and ecology programs. In fact, the ecology program will have a special focus on the school's garden.'

Ms. Stone also admires the work of the R.H. School site council and PTA, seeing the parents' commitment to supporting the ways kids learn best. In addition, she is excited to work with a unique program, which is only available at R.H. School. The T.A.C.L.E.: Technology & Augmentative Communication for Learning Enhancement program educates students with complex communication needs and severe physical impairments. Moreover, Ms. Stone thinks that all of the teachers at R.H.S. are "amazing" and hopes to develop a long-lasting relationship with the school community.'

If you would like to meet Ms. Stone, she hosts a morning coffee on the last Wednesday of the month. She also invites all members of the community to attend the school carnival on Saturday, October 24, and the Harvest for Learning Auction on November 7. May the upcoming years at R.H.S. be fruitful for all. Welcome, Ms. Stone.