8 EDCAL June 10, 2019
CROWDER
Middle School and Patrick Henry High
School. I was hooked on the challenges
and inspiration I received every day from
my staff and students.
Continued from page 1
Crowder has served as interim principal at
a number of schools and has applied to be
a student-teacher mentor. She continues
to have a passionate interest in the rela-
tion between improved landscape design
and quality of life, and currently supports
the Region 18 scholarship program that
recently grew to five $1,000 scholarships
for future educators.
“One of the special leadership traits
Dr. Crowder possesses is the awareness
and desire to make the status quo bet-
ter, and the passion and the drive to get
involved and do what it takes to achieve a
higher goal,” said Tom Teagle, Region 18
executive director. “Time and time again,
Patricia has either been asked to help or
she has volunteered to get involved in a
project within our organization, and she
has never failed to follow through until it
is accomplished.”
What’s your favorite quote about leader-
ship?
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn
sense of wonder, he needs the companion-
ship of at least one adult who can share it,
rediscovering with him the joy, excitement,
and mystery of the world we live in.” —
Rachel Carson (1965).
I am passionate about children learning
about the natural world and interact-
ing with it as they are inspired by it in
their daily lives. Rachel Carson helped to
encourage outdoor learning, a practice I
always encouraged with every teacher.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been
given?
“Find the best teachers you can and
then get out of their way.” — J.M. Tarvin,
Principal, La Jolla High 1984-1996.
His role was to support extraordinary
teachers doing extraordinary things, and
every teacher knew he believed in him/her
to provide an extraordinary education for
all students. La Jolla High produced many
extraordinary students, presidential schol-
ars, scientists, leaders, etc., in those years.
What’s your best strategy for work/life
balance?
I have always believed in working hard
and playing hard. I like to be involved in
a number of things focused on education,
family, landscape and travel, including
some interesting adventures planned for
my husband and family. When work-
Pat Crowder, shown here hiking in Muir Woods, has researched the influence of quality outdoor environments
on student learning.
ing as a teacher or administrator I used
to squeeze in a trip to England before
Christmas or Easter, and in the summer
most years we visited family in Cornwall,
Sussex and Liverpool to tour, hike and bike
the countryside. We traveled with our four
children most summers after my husband,
a history teacher, finished 18 years as a sea-
sonal lifeguard. We still keep a busy travel
schedule to England, Europe, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand in between
our volunteer work, occasional work proj-
ects and gardening. Being engaged with
people and seeing new sights and land-
scapes makes life exciting and adventurous.
Retirement allows us to be more involved
in ACSA and in other educational organi-
zations in San Diego and to feel every day
is a new adventure.
What made you want to become a school
administrator?
Like many teachers who love the craft
of teaching, I wanted to share instructional
strategies, first as a mentor teacher at La
Jolla High and then with other teachers
in the San Diego Unified School District.
Developing a team approach to profession-
al development encouraged every teacher
to share his/her insights and learning strat-
egies.
Seeing the influence I had upon other
teachers to further engage students in
questioning, learning activities, and indi-
vidual achievement led me to become an
administrator. I found a team approach to
professional development and inspiring
teachers and students to achieve real-
ly worked. I was able to see substantial
achievement gains as principal of Lewis
What are you most proud of accomplish-
ing?
I am very proud of completing my doc-
toral research in the influence of a quality
outdoor environment on student learning, a
subject I am passionate about.
Having visited many school campuses
in England and Europe, I saw how many
schools maintained beautiful, green land-
scapes and encouraged outdoor learning.
From the moment I became a principal, I
wanted to improve the landscape of each
school to make the outdoor environment
appealing and beckoning outdoor instruc-
tion.
When I became principal of Patrick
Henry High, I was first struck by the
excessive amount of concrete and lack of
seating space. The main quad area looked
institutional, unwelcoming, and the reflec-
tive light and heat on the concrete made
the hot days even more uncomfortable.
There was a lot of student conflict and a
negative student climate.
I began to work with a parent, who was
a landscape architect, and the Director
of Facilities for the San Diego Unified
School District to use some of our school
improvement funds to redesign the central
quad area of the school campus. It took a
lot of work, overcoming years of setbacks
to secure the funding and approval for the
redesign, and when completed, the addition
of rows of trees with circular seating areas
beside large, open seating lawns and plant-
ers transformed how the students interact-
ed with the environment and each other.
I encouraged teachers to use the out-
door spaces for their lessons, and I saw
there was a more positive school cli-
mate and joy shared by the students. My
research focused on those changes from the
students’ and teachers’ perspectives.
Now, I am thrilled to see improved
landscape design being adopted at other
schools, and the San Diego Unified School
District has embraced the need to add
trees and lawns for student learning. Most
significantly, my research showed the stu-
dents felt a more positive attitude toward
their learning and increased trust from
their teachers when allowed to learn in an
outdoor environment.
In retirement I have continued my focus
on high quality outdoor environments,
working on various landscape projects at
our rentals.
Continued from page 7
manager, director level
manager, other
✪ Yuba City Unified School District—Director of Child Nutrition, Purchasing &
Warehouse Services Yuba City Unified School District is seeking a strong administrator with
excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Salary: $104,361 - $144,340
per year (plus $1,800 for MA degree and/or $5,000 for Doctorate) 8 hrs per day/220 days per
year pending Board Approval. Deadline: June 21, 2019 by 5:00 pm. Please apply online at
www.edjoin.org. Completed application must include a cover letter, resume, and three letters
of recommendation. Contact Information: Michael Reed, Assistant Superintendent - Human
Resources, Yuba City Unified School District, 750 Palora Avenue, Yuba City, CA 95991 (530)
822-7630 [email protected]. ✪ Visalia Unified School District—Program Manager: Special Education, District Office
Date Posted: 6/3/2019. Contact: Hannah Espinoza, 559-730-7550. Length of Work Year: 205.
Employment Type: Full Time. Application Deadline: 6/17/2019 5:00 PM Pacific. Salary: $117,077
- $130,296 (2018-19 Salary Schedule) Start Date: July 1, 2019. Site: District Office. Apply at:
https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1184326.
✪ Yuba City Unified School District—Director of Transportation at Yuba City USD Yuba
City Unified School District is seeking a strong administrator with excellent leadership,
communication, and interpersonal skills. Salary: $104,361 - $144,340 per year (plus $1,800
for MA degree and/or $5,000 for Doctorate) 8 hrs per day/220 days per year pending
Board Approval. Deadline: June 21, 2019 by 5:00 pm. Please apply online at www.edjoin.
org. Completed application must include a cover letter, resume, and three letters of
recommendation. Contact Information: Michael Reed, Assistant Superintendent - Human
Resources, Yuba City Unified School District, 750 Palora Avenue, Yuba City, CA 95991 (530)
822-7630 [email protected]. ✪ Hueneme Elementary School District—Assistant Principal Contact: Jennifer Carr 805-
488-3588. 215 Days - Start Date July 1, 2019. Salary $108,417 - $121,424. Application Deadline
June 28, 2019. Qualifications: Master’s Degree or Doctorate from an accredited university,
Current Administrative Services Credential, Minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching/
school counseling/school psychologist experience.
manager, supervisor level
✪ Brentwood Union School District—Technology Coordinator The Brentwood Union
School District is hiring a full-time Technology Coordinator. 223 day work year - Management
Salary Schedule. Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (4:00 PM). Must apply online
at www.brentwood.k12.ca.us or https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1181553.
manager, other
✪ Cabrillo Unified School District—Chief Business Official Step 1 ($132,679) to Step
7 ($149,419) + 2,538 Master’s Stipend District provides generous benefit package,
CalPERS buyout for Classic Members. Under the direction of the Superintendent, the
senior management position of Chief Business Official plans, organizes, directs, controls
and coordinates the business and support functions of the District, including budgeting,
accounting, bookkeeping, purchasing, food services, transportation, maintenance, operations
and facilities; and performs other duties as required.
assistant/vice principal
confidential
✪ Oakley Union Elementary School District—Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
This position provides executive level administrative and clerical support to the Superintendent
and Board of Trustees of a highly complex and responsible nature. Communicates information
to the public, District staff and other school districts and county personnel. Ensures
compliance with financial, legal and administrative requirements. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Salary: $58,604 - $70,510 per year + $1,200 stipend for MA or $1,600 for Doctorate 260 days
(12 month work calendar). Contact: Tammi Lauderdale, HR Specialist.Email: tlauderdale@
ouesd.k12.ca.us. Deadline: June 21, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Please visit www.edjoin.org/ouesd for
application, full job description and additional information.
other
✪ Visalia Unified School District—Psychologist, District Office Date Posted: 6/3/2019.
Contact: Hannah Espinoza, 559-730-7550. Length of Work Year: Part Time .6 FTE. Employment
Type: Part Time. Application Deadline: 6/17/2019 5:00 PM Pacific. Salary: $111,499 - $123,994.
Start Date: July 1, 2019. Site: District Office. Apply at: https://www.edjoin.org/Home/
JobPosting/1184334.