Quick Take
Pajaro Middle School teachers say they're relieved that Principal Nicole Killian is moving to a district office role. In May, they gave the district superintendent a vote of no confidence and demanded her removal.
Months after a majority of Pajaro Middle School teachers demanded their principal’s removal after they say she failed to keep students and staff safe, the district announced recently that she’ll be taking on a new district office position.
During last week’s meeting of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board, Trustee Joy Flynn announced that Pajaro Middle Principal Nicole Killian will be the new assistant director of multilingual programs.
“I’m really excited to announce you into this position,” Flynn said at the meeting. “I consider you a dear friend even though we don’t get to talk all the time. You are a very special person and PVUSD is very lucky to have you.”
The district has yet to announce who will replace Killian as the middle school’s new principal. PVUSD spokesperson Alejandro Chavez told Lookout on Thursday that the district is still finalizing the interim principal appointment and will announce it soon, while Killian will remain at the school in the meantime.
He added that the district has already started the search for a new permanent principal and Pajaro Middle community members will have opportunities to provide input.
In May, teachers submitted a vote of no confidence resolution to PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras, saying that “the campus is drowning in incompetence from the principal causing a lack of safety.” In the resolution, they demanded she resign or be removed.
Pajaro Middle teachers Ben Waite and Tim Powers told Lookout that while they would have preferred that the district proceed with Killian’s move to another role over the summer rather than weeks into the school year, they feel relieved to start a new chapter.
“Why didn’t this process finish in the summertime instead of four weeks into the school year, when it’s difficult to hire [for a new permanent principal]?” said Powers. “It feels like it was a sudden thought or afterthought.”
Waite added that staff are hopeful that they’ll be involved in the hiring of a new principal and don’t want another appointed administrator, as Killian was appointed without their input. “We’re making sure our voices are heard,” he said.
Waite and Powers said district officials hope to hire a permanent principal during a board meeting in October.
Waite said that as a result of their joint efforts to submit their vote of no confidence, teachers and staff are feeling much more engaged in the school and demanding the best learning environment.
“I think that’s one of the best things that have come out of this,” he said. “A staff who’s willing to speak up.”
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