San Mateo and Foster City school chief announces retirement

After 10 years of leading elementary schools in San Mateo and Foster City, Pendery Clark announced plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Clark, who joined the district as superintendent in 2001, will serve until June 30. The announcement came during a San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District Thursday night. The Board of Trustees is wasting no time searching to fill the opening. Cost quotes for various search firms to find a new superintendent will be discussed at the Feb. 3 board meeting.

"Pendery has been our valued leader for the past 10 years. She’s been successful in raising achievement of our students, narrowing the achievement gap, creating financial stability and increasing choice and opportunities for students. ... She will be difficult to replace,” said board President Mark Hudak.

Trustee Julie Chan echoed Hudak’s sentiments adding, "we respect her decision. The board is working as a team along with the community to find the best person to replace Pendery.”

An ad hoc committee of trustees Lory Lorimer Lawson and Ellen Mallory Ulrich was put together to lead the search efforts.

"We’re excited about the next few months,” said Ulrich, who reiterated plans to work with the larger community. "We really want to get a sense from the community of what they want in a leader.”

Lawson was pleased for Clark to reach a point in her life where she can focus on other things. The change, though, is an opportunity for the community to come together and discuss their vision for the future, said Lawson.

Clark did not return a call for comment.

Clark joined the district in 2001 through a 3-1 vote with then trustee Jack Coyne dissenting over contract issues.

During her tenure, the district passed a number of parcel tax and bond measures, came close to teacher strikes twice and reinvented schools as magnet programs specializing in a variety of fields from arts to technology. More recently, the district has been on a search for a fourth elementary school location to deal with enrollment increases in Foster City.

Before taking the leadership role in San Mateo-Foster City, Clark worked as superintendent of Lake Tahoe’s Douglas County School District.

Clark previously worked as a teacher and an assistant superintendent of the West Contra Costa County School District and then the Kansas City Missouri School District. She holds degrees from the University of California at Berkeley, Pepperdine University and Nova Southeastern University.

San Mateo-Foster City becomes the fourth district in San Mateo County to be faced with a superintendent search. Earlier this month, Ken Ranella, superintendent of the Menlo Park City Elementary School District, announced plans to retire. Dianne Talarico, superintendent of the Burlingame Elementary School District, announced an immediate retirement this month due to medical reasons. Judson Kempson, assistant superintendent of educational services, was named as the interim for the remainder of the school year.

In South San Francisco, Howard Cohen, South San Francisco Unified School District superintendent, resigned effective June 30. In Cohen’s case, he is on administrative leave and retains his title while collecting salary until that time.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.