Andrew Ryan named principal of Sonoma’s Sassarini Elementary School

Andrew Ryan will leave SVHS to run the elementary school he attended as a child.|

Sonoma Valley High School vice principal Andrew Ryan will take the helm as principal at Sassarini Elementary School on July 1 for the 2017-2018 school year.

Sonoma Valley Unified School District Superintendent Louann Carlomagno announced the appointment in a press release late last week. Ryan’s position at SVHS has been posted on the national Edujoin job website at a salary of $93,000 to $107,000, the same range as his new principal position at Sassarini.

Ryan grew up in Sonoma Valley and attended Sassarini Elementary and Altimira Middle School, before graduating from SVHS in 1998.

“Sassarini is where education all began for me,” he said, adding that soon he will have worked at every school he attended in town. He said he expects to spend the weeks prior to the first day of school getting to know Sassarini stakeholders including school staff. He also expects to attend a new principal workshop this summer.

Ryan currently lives in the Sassarini school district.

Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Chico State University in 2002, his teaching credential from Chapman University in 2004, and his master’s degree in education in 2005 also from Chapman. He earned his administrative credential in 2009.

He has served as vice principal at Sonoma Valley High School since 2011. Prior to SVHS, he taught P.E., leadership, and health and served as athletic director at Altimira Middle School.

As vice principal at Sonoma Valley High School, Ryan has been actively involved in the athletic program, as well as the creation of the freshman teams, CTE courses including the engineering pathway, and the agriculture program.

Kathleen Hawing, principal of Sonoma Valley High School, said, “Andrew will bring positive energy, dedication and commitment to success for all students to his new role as principal at Sassarini. And he will be missed here at Sonoma High.”

Ryan’s wife, Richelle, teaches mathematics and history at Adele Harrison Middle School; his mother, Julie, teaches English at Adele Harrison; and his brother-in-law, Doug Stewart, teaches in the special education department at SVHS. The Ryans have two sons in elementary school and a 3-years-old daughter.

Sassarini principal Jacqui Parker recently informed Carlomagno that she was looking for an administrative position closer to her home and family in Sausalito. Her last day will be June 30. Parker has served as principal since 2014.

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