PALO ALTO, CA –The Palo Alto Board of Education is pleased to announce the choice of Dr. Kevin Skelly, Associate Superintendent of Poway Unified School District, as the finalist for Superintendent of the Palo Alto Unified School District. The members of the Palo Alto Board of Education will travel to Poway for a validation visit on May 7, 2007, to meet with members of the Poway school community. Parent and staff representatives will join the Board on this trip. 

Dr. Skelly received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Economics from Harvard University in 1983 and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Management from the University of California at Berkeley in 1993.  Prior to his current position at Poway, Dr. Skelly served eleven years as principal of Saratoga High School. Dr. Skelly began his career in education teaching high school math and working with elementary and middle school students from disadvantaged neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., followed by teaching in Ecuador. He also taught math and Spanish in Oakland for two years.  Dr. Skelly is married and has four children, elementary through high school.

Kevin’s current colleague and former PAUSD superintendent, Poway Superintendent Don Phillips, states, “Kevin cares deeply about students and their overall academic growth and well being.  He is a good fit for Palo Alto.”

Board President Camille Townsend said, “Kevin impressed the Board with his intellect, his excitement for education, his experience working with all kinds of youth, and his vision for the future.  His reputation as a bright, forward thinking, good listener, and a creative problem solver came through to each of us as he talked about his excitement for educating his children in Palo Alto's schools. His building on the many and varied strengths of the district came through to us as a commitment to all our students and our community.”

Revised May 2007