Ruth Asawa SOTA Friday Community Letter | May 31, 2024

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Dear Ruth Asawa SOTA Community,

I cannot believe this will be the last community letter for this school year!  In this letter, I would like to share a few plans and some goals I have for our community in the coming school year.

My number one goal for next year is to move forward and bring back a sense of community.  There are a few steps that are already in motion.  We are planning all of our whole staff meetings and PD revolving around community building for the entire year starting with doing fun, community building activities on our first day back together.  We are planning to support the student community by planning different events throughout the school year such as spirit week, pep rally, community service day, etc.  Last but not least, I’m in close contact with PTSA fundraising folks to support different PTSA events so parents/guardians have the opportunity to build community.   I understand that this is a multi-year commitment and am looking forward to a close knit community years to come.  As always, please share any feedback, suggestions, etc.

I want to take this opportunity to appreciate our teachers who are retiring.  Ms. Berman, Ms. Coghlan, Mr. Kwapy, Mr. Rowley, and Ms. Woodward, we thank you for your dedication and your service for this school, students, and community.  We will miss you all sorely.  Congratulations on your next chapter.  We wish you nothing but the best.

Here are some updates regarding staffing for next year:

Current open positions are for our Theatre Department Director and Creative Writing Director. We appreciate the efforts of our current Directors to help recruit and support potential new staff and we want everyone to understand that all candidates will be required to go through an interview process for the role. The skill set and fit for each role will be discussed by the site interview committee. Given new changes to the staffing model and budget we have been working collaboratively with the necessary departments to process these as efficiently as possible. Interviewing will be continuing as needed throughout the summer and we expect to be able to fill these roles with a qualified teacher before the start of the school year. We will be maintaining close communication with all eligible candidates to support them in the process.

We all have the same goal in the end - our students to have the best education experience possible.  This is not just academics, but it is looking at a child wholly.  I truly believe that different approaches folks bring are not right or wrong, it is simply different since we all come from different backgrounds and lenses.  I’m hopeful that we adults will be able to pull this together, whether agree or disagree with approaches, and work this out for our children.

Have a great summer break and look forward to seeing you in August!

Thanks,

Stella Kim

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Next year’s Admin Team Introductions:

Principal Stella Kim

Stella Kim was born in NYC raised in different parts of the world but ended up back in the U.S. in her 10th grade.  When graduating from Penn State, she threw darts on a map and applied to jobs wherever the darts landed.  It ultimately brought her out to the West Coast.  Ms. Kim received her Masters in Ed. in Special Education from St. Mary’s College of California and Masters in Educational Administration from SF State.  When not working, she is an avid diver and loves going to different places to dive around the globe.  

Assistant Principal Amber Mosby

Ms. Mosby graduated from SF State before attending the University of La Verne where she received her  M.S. in Educational Counseling. She has worked in educational programs since 2006 and started in SFUSD in 2019. When she’s not working she is attending conventions or taking pictures. Nikon over everything!

Assistant Principal Carlos Herrera

Mr. Herrera is a San Francisco native.  He is a graduate of UCSC, (he says “go Slugs!”) and received his Masters in Education from USF. He loves weekend jam sessions in his friend’s garage and loves everything outdoors. When school is out he is with the family at a river, lake, or ocean going for a swim or paddle! In 2010 he and his wife drove from SF to Chile in a converted truck running on waste vegetable oil.  

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Congratulations to our Class of 2024!