John Muir & Allen School Principals Retire

Article Source: San Bruno Park School District - CA

PHOTO CAPTION:
Left to right: Elmer Martinez (Senator Jerry Hill); Randy Torrijos (Supervisor Dave Pine); Kit Cosgriff; Mayor Rico Medina, Dr. Frances Dunleavy; Ben Cohn (Assemblymember Kevin Mullin)

RETIREMENT RECOGNITION FOR ALLEN AND JOHN MUIR PRINCIPALS

May 23, 2019. San Bruno, California. Retiring Principals Kit Cosgriff (Allen Elementary School) and Dr. Fran Dunleavy (John Muir Elementary School) received local, state and national recognition at the San Bruno Park School District Board of Trustees meeting on May 22, 2019. Presenting recognitions were representatives of US Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Senator Jerry Hill, Assemblymember Kevin Mullin, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors (represented by Supervisor Dave Pine’s staff) and San Bruno Mayor Rico Medina.

Ms. Cosgriff and Dr. Dunleavy have served a combined 85 years in the education of children, the majority of those years in San Bruno. Collectively the honors they received highlighted:

Kit Cosgriff: 47 years as an educator and 20 years as Principal at Allen, whose “life work has been a commit to always putting children first”. At Allen, 2000 students “were enticed to think big and to explore their potential” (Congresswoman Speier). Ms. Cosgriff worked with over 100 teachers at Allen, leading faculty on school transformation in launching STEAM education at the school. She has focused on educational equity and closing the achievement gap. Allen’s participation in Bay Area School Reform Collaborative (5 years) promoted collective data-driving inquiry into student achievement gaps and the development of systemic instructional responses to those gaps. Over the years, Allen received numerous awards including San Mateo County School Boards Association’s J Russell Kent Exemplary Award for Allen’s Academic Music Program and Allen was recognized by Innovate Public Schools as a top-performing Bay area school for low income Latino students in the area of math. “Thousands of families and students owe their bright futures to their sound beginnings under (her) leadership at Allen…” (Congresswoman Jackie Speier)

Frances M. Dunleavy, Ed.D.: 38 years as an educator; 37 of those years in San Bruno Park School District and 13 of those as Principal of John Muir. Dr. Dunleavy was also GATE Summer School Coordinator (a collaboration of three school districts) for 14 years, a program that received San Mateo County School Board’s Association J. Russell Kent Award. During her principalship, she was responsible for over 1200 students with the focus of her career being on making connections with students and families to help students be the best they can be. She was recognized for always taking time to celebrate with students and teachers even the smallest of accomplishments – probably the reason so many of her former students sent their children to John Muir. Dr. Dunleavy “inculcated environmental respect into every child” (Congresswoman Jackie Speier), resulting in awards from the County Office of Education’s One Planet Challenge, San Mateo County Food Systems Alliance Award, and certification as a National School Yard Habitat. Recently, John Muir was honored by the Boy Scouts of America with their Community Leadership Award. “Due to (her) leadership, John Muir is a revered institution in our community”. (Congresswoman Jackie Speier).

Mayor Rico Medina praised the two principals as standard bearers for all that is good and right with education in San Bruno Park School District. They will be missed.

Contact:

Dr. Stella M. Kemp, Superintendent

Skemp@sbpsd.k12.ca.us

=

Robert Riechel

Send your articles and photos to:

E=Mail: SanBrunoPatch.Robert@Yahoo.com

WEB: http://SanBrunoPatch.com

Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Park School District

Source Credit: Superintendent Kemp - San Bruno CA Park School District

Web Site: http://sbpsd.org

CLICK on link below to Subscribe to News Alerts and a Daily Email Newsletter for San Bruno Patch

http://link.patch.com/join/3-0-subscribe?list=US_CA_SANBRUNO_282

#SanBrunoPatch