Justin-Siena principal resigns suddenly

Christopher Brady leaves ‘for health reasons’|

The turmoil at Justin-Siena High School in Napa that began in October with the surprise ousting of Principal John Bordelon continued this week with the unexpected Jan. 16 resignation of his successor, Principal Christopher Brady.

Brady’s departure, for which he cites health reasons, was effective immediately.

In a letter sent Tuesday to the school community, Justin-Siena President David Holquin said Brady’s “presence and steady hand have led the community ably.”

Brady was named principal of the private Catholic school in late October, almost immediately following the Oct. 23 firing of Bordelon. At the time, school officials noted specifically that Brady was not an interim, but instead a permanent hire.

Bordelon had been fired by former Justin-Siena President Robert Jordan, as the high school’s 575 students returned for the first day after school following more than a week-long closure due to the fires.

Soon after, in the face of vocal backlash from the school’s parent community about Bordelon’s ousting, Jordan on Nov. 3 announced his resignation as president.

In December, the school’s board of directors named former Justin-Siena administrator and teacher David J. Holquin as its new president, who was expected to lead the school alongside Brady.

In his Jan. 16 letter to parents, Holquin said that he and Brady had been in regular dialogue over the past few weeks to ensure Holquin’s smooth transition into his role as president. During those discussions, he said, Brady had informed him “that his health would prove an issue for him to continue as principal much longer.”

Holquin noted that Brady had survived an aggressive bout with cancer 12 years ago, but added that “stress is also taking a toll.”

“This stress has been exacerbated not only by the intensity of the last few months, but also by his return to a first-line administrator position,” said Holquin. “His health is suffering as a result.”

Holquin also announced that Heidi Harrison and Robert Bailey have agreed to continue to serve as the school’s chief academic officer and chief operations officer, respectively. Both will report directly to Holquin, who plans to evaluate, by June, what next hiring will be needed for the following academic year.

Some Sonoma Valley parents with children at Justin-Siena are expressing frustration with the most recent turn of events.

“So, today we sit with no Principal,” wrote Ginny and Mickey Breen in a letter to the Index-Tribune. “At the end of the day, the decision of one person, Robert Jordan, started the ball rolling, creating a whirlwind of havoc, devastation, uncertainty and most of all, a complete loss of trust, faith and confidence in the ‘leadership’ at Justin-Siena. A complete waste.”

Continued the Breens: “This was all for nothing and never should have happened in the first place.”

Justin-Siena officials plan to determine next steps regarding filling the principal position by the end of this school year.

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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