Parents and teachers urge Mount Diablo Unified to reinstate principals at Riverview and Pleasant Hill

Dozens of parents, teachers and staff urged the Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education on April 16 to reverse personnel decisions affecting two elementary/middle school principals, saying the changes risk destabilizing Title I campuses.

Speakers from Riverview Middle School and Pleasant Hill Elementary presented a staff letter, petitions and personal accounts asserting that current principals had improved school climate and student supports. They asked the board to reconsider decisions that would remove or not reappoint the principals.

The appeals centered on two separate personnel matters. At Riverview Middle School, teachers and community members spoke in support of Principal Lori Clark, saying her leadership improved attendance, reduced suspensions and stabilized staffing. Cori Lynch Grant, identified in public comment as a teacher with more than 20 years’ experience, said Clark’s leadership “has improved Riverview in nearly every measurable way” and asked the board to “reconsider the decision to remove Ms. Lori Clark as principal.” Jennifer Smith read a letter she said was signed by 30 Riverview staff describing Clark’s “sense of calm, purpose, and direction” and urging the board to allow her to remain.

At Pleasant Hill Elementary (PHE), parents and staff objected to the district’s decision not to retain Principal Nicholas Ray. Speakers presented petitions and said Ray provided conflict resolution, supported students with individualized plans, and improved schoolwide instruction and morale. Tess Nicosia, who identified herself as a parent, said she was “extremely disappointed in the district’s decision to let my principal, Nick Ray, at Pleasant Hill Elementary go at the end of the school year.” Kristen Tennyson said she collected a petition signed by roughly 100 caregivers urging the board to extend Ray’s contract.

Multiple commenters described active, organized campaigns to retain the principals: Heather Hollis said she brought “68 signatures” on short notice and expected more with additional time; others said teachers had collected signatures during the school day. Several parents asked the board for greater transparency about why the personnel decisions were made. One parent asked the board to “pause this particular process right now until you can engage with us and determine what PHE needs moving forward.”

Superintendent Dr. Clark responded during the meeting by noting personnel matters are legally confidential and said the district cannot discuss individual personnel details publicly. Dr. Clark said she visits school sites frequently and reiterated district priorities on student safety, instructional support and principal leadership, and said the district would continue work to support students and staff.

Votes at a glance - Appointment of Gilberto Parada Jr. as principal at El Monte Elementary School — motion passed; board recorded as approving the appointment (motion moved by Trustee Kount; second by Trustee McDougall). (Transcript: approval announced following motion.) - Appointment of Carrie Nierheim as principal at Highlands Elementary School — motion passed (moved by Trustee Mason; second by Trustee Kount). - Appointment of Madison Benz to an elementary principal position (site TBD) — motion passed (moved by Trustee Nzewi; second by Trustee McDougall). - Appointment of Anne McNamara Kim as principal at Pleasant Hill Elementary — motion passed (moved by Trustee Nzewi; second by Trustee McDougall). Several public commenters asked the board to pause or reconsider that appointment; the board proceeded and voted to approve the appointment by recorded vote.

What the public asked the board to do Public commenters requested: reversal of the personnel actions; a pause to engage parents, teachers and students before implementing leadership changes; and clearer explanation of the district’s decision-making process. Commenters cited data and concrete examples (improved attendance, decreased suspensions, reclassification gains for multilingual learners) to support their claims about site leadership.

Context and next steps Board members and district staff repeatedly reminded the audience that individual personnel matters are confidential under law and therefore not subject to public discussion at the board table. Several parents said they understood confidentiality limits but asked the board to provide general explanations and to increase community input for future principal selections. The board approved multiple administrative appointments during the meeting; the district’s personnel office and the board clerk will post final appointment records and effective dates as required.

Ending Speakers closed the public comment period after roughly 30 minutes of remarks. The board proceeded with agenda business, including the formal appointments listed above and the superintendent’s report.