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Emery Unified Names Wesley as Superintendent

David Mills
Connection Staff
May 2008

New Superintendent Wants Emeryville Schools to be Above Average

It’s official.

The man who has run the Emery Unified School District since November is now the district’s superintendent.

The Emery school board last month chose Steven Wesley to run the rejuvenated district.

Wesley had been acting superintendent since November, when former Superintendent Tony Smith left to join the San Francisco Unified School District.

“We are thrilled to have Steve Wesley as our superintendent,” said school board member Kurt Brinkman. “He is a very, very good leader, a good thinker and a good listener.”

Brinkman said 27 people applied for the job. The district hired the California School Board Association to select seven finalists and Wesley was chosen from that group.

Wesley said he was honored and relieved to be given the permanent post. He said he can now look toward dealing with some of the Emeryville schools’ long-term issues as well as running the day-to-day operations.

“It’s always better to have both feet on the ground,” he said.

Wesley said there are several goals he has put at the top of his agenda.

One is to continue Emeryville’s improvements in test scores and academic achievements.

“We don’t want to be an average school in this state,” Wesley said. “We want to be well above average.”

The new superintendent also said he wants to “advance the excitement and enthusiasm” for the district’s proposed Center for Community Life. School leaders are working with city officials to find a site for the center, which would serve the needs of children as well as adults outside the district’s two schools.

Wesley said the district also needs to look at its other development plans for the next 10 years. That includes a new high school campus. He also wants to promote a “greater sense of community spirit” among Emeryville residents, businesses and schools.

Wesley said he’s inherited a good foundation to build from with the 10-year parcel tax that was approved by voters last summer as well as the efforts of the Emery Ed Fund. He said he also looks forward to working with the district’s strong crop of employees.

Wesley grew up in Philadelphia. He received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University. He also did master’s program work at the University of Dayton, Ohio, and education specialization studies at St. Louis University. He did advanced doctoral work at Columbia University.

Wesley has been in the education field for 35 years, mostly with urban school districts.

David Mills is a writer for The Emeryville Connection.

If you have a question or comment, please contact him at ecocnews@gmail.com