CASA GRANDE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
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Eric Backman, Principal
Email: [email protected] Phone: (707) 778-4679 FAX: (707) 778-4687
Administrative Duties: Liasion to Depts: English, Counseling, Library, World Language, SLCs: Health Career Pathway, 9th Grade Houses/Teams, English Learner Support, ELAC, CELDT, BIAs, Principal Advisory, Post-Secondary Education Data, NCCPA Grant, Site Council, Trust Agreement, Augmented Cabinet, Master Schedule, 8th Grade Parent Night, Freshman Orientation, PTSA, Principal's Tours, Teacher Evaluation.
I have been an educator for 21 years and am privileged to have worked at Casa Grande High School since 2005. I was a classroom social studies teacher for twelve years. In 2007, I shifted focus to become a school administrator. Inspired by the incredible staff and diverse and talented students at Casa Grande, I decided to move into school leadership to participate more directly in Casa's ongoing, school-wide pursuit of excellence.
In my current role as school principal, I work with teachers, staff, students, parents and community members to support an educational program that is highly collaborative with rigorous, relevant and integrated curriculum that is designed to engage and inspire students and to prepare them for college and the workplace.
Casa is one of the finest high schools in the region and state. In 2014, Casa was honored to receive the Gold Ribbon Distinguished High School Award from the California Department of Education. In that same year, we were recognized by US News and World Report as the 795th best high school in the nation, which places Casa in the top 5% of high schools in the United States.
Casa Grande High School boasts an incredible array of opportunities to engage and support all students as learners, productive citizens, and involved and informed community members. Through collaboration, relationship-building, and hard work, Casa educates so that all of our students have great opportunities to realize their full potential.
I am a product of the California State University system. I graduated with a BA in history from San Diego State University in 1992. I completed my MA at San Francisco State University in 1995 with a major in US History and a minor in gender studies. I received both credentials for teaching and education leadership from Sonoma State University, where I am currently an adjunct faculty member. I was honored as Assistant Principal of the Year in 2011 by the Sonoma County Association of School Administrators. I also received the Friend of the Program, Alumni of the Year Award from Sonoma State University in 2011.
I have lived in Petaluma for 21 years. I am staff member for Rivertown Revival and Board Secretary for Friends of the Petaluma River. I am married to Kelin Castleberry Backman, who owns her own event planning company. I have two daughters who are 24 and 16 and two dogs and five chickens. I like to run, read, backpack, and play the drums. I enjoy my family and friends tremendously.
Email: [email protected] Phone: (707) 778-4679 FAX: (707) 778-4687
Administrative Duties: Liasion to Depts: English, Counseling, Library, World Language, SLCs: Health Career Pathway, 9th Grade Houses/Teams, English Learner Support, ELAC, CELDT, BIAs, Principal Advisory, Post-Secondary Education Data, NCCPA Grant, Site Council, Trust Agreement, Augmented Cabinet, Master Schedule, 8th Grade Parent Night, Freshman Orientation, PTSA, Principal's Tours, Teacher Evaluation.
I have been an educator for 21 years and am privileged to have worked at Casa Grande High School since 2005. I was a classroom social studies teacher for twelve years. In 2007, I shifted focus to become a school administrator. Inspired by the incredible staff and diverse and talented students at Casa Grande, I decided to move into school leadership to participate more directly in Casa's ongoing, school-wide pursuit of excellence.
In my current role as school principal, I work with teachers, staff, students, parents and community members to support an educational program that is highly collaborative with rigorous, relevant and integrated curriculum that is designed to engage and inspire students and to prepare them for college and the workplace.
Casa is one of the finest high schools in the region and state. In 2014, Casa was honored to receive the Gold Ribbon Distinguished High School Award from the California Department of Education. In that same year, we were recognized by US News and World Report as the 795th best high school in the nation, which places Casa in the top 5% of high schools in the United States.
Casa Grande High School boasts an incredible array of opportunities to engage and support all students as learners, productive citizens, and involved and informed community members. Through collaboration, relationship-building, and hard work, Casa educates so that all of our students have great opportunities to realize their full potential.
I am a product of the California State University system. I graduated with a BA in history from San Diego State University in 1992. I completed my MA at San Francisco State University in 1995 with a major in US History and a minor in gender studies. I received both credentials for teaching and education leadership from Sonoma State University, where I am currently an adjunct faculty member. I was honored as Assistant Principal of the Year in 2011 by the Sonoma County Association of School Administrators. I also received the Friend of the Program, Alumni of the Year Award from Sonoma State University in 2011.
I have lived in Petaluma for 21 years. I am staff member for Rivertown Revival and Board Secretary for Friends of the Petaluma River. I am married to Kelin Castleberry Backman, who owns her own event planning company. I have two daughters who are 24 and 16 and two dogs and five chickens. I like to run, read, backpack, and play the drums. I enjoy my family and friends tremendously.
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Stephen Owens, Asst. Principal
Email: [email protected] Phone: (707) 778-4681 FAX: (707) 778-4687
Administrative Duties: Liaison to Depts: Social Science Math, PE, IEP's for RSP-Beaton, Schunck, Lim, Koonkongsatian, Student Services N-Z, Campus Supervisors, CBEDS, K-12 Curriculum Committee, CAHSEE, ASB, Boosters, School Safety Plan, BTSA/New Teachers, Student Teachers, 1:1 Deployment, Athletics, Facilities-Athletics, Transition Team, House/Cluster Liaison 10th -Equinox Cluster-IH, 10th Grade Team meetings, Student interventions, Title IX Officers, Certificated and Classified Evaluations
I have been an educator for over 18 years in public education. I have spent most of my career as a social studies instructor. Before embarking on my educational pursuits, I enlisted in the United States Coast Guard where I was stationed one year abroad in Okinawa, Japan and after training at the Coast Guard station in Two Rock; I served aboard the cutter Citrus from Coos Bay, Oregon.
I received my bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles. I earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from California State University, San Jose. I taught social studies in grades 7 and 8 for ten years in Salinas, CA. I joined Petaluma City Schools as an Assistant Principal in 2007 at Kenilworth Junior High and in 2009 became an Assistant Principal at Casa Grande.
I am proud to be a part of Casa Grande’s staff where it is privilege to work alongside teachers and staff dedicated to the students and their success. As Petaluma City Schools moves toward Common Core instruction, I have co-facilitated the district math committee for the transition to the new junior and high school math curriculum for the past three years.
I live in Petaluma with my wife and family.
Email: [email protected] Phone: (707) 778-4681 FAX: (707) 778-4687
Administrative Duties: Liaison to Depts: Social Science Math, PE, IEP's for RSP-Beaton, Schunck, Lim, Koonkongsatian, Student Services N-Z, Campus Supervisors, CBEDS, K-12 Curriculum Committee, CAHSEE, ASB, Boosters, School Safety Plan, BTSA/New Teachers, Student Teachers, 1:1 Deployment, Athletics, Facilities-Athletics, Transition Team, House/Cluster Liaison 10th -Equinox Cluster-IH, 10th Grade Team meetings, Student interventions, Title IX Officers, Certificated and Classified Evaluations
I have been an educator for over 18 years in public education. I have spent most of my career as a social studies instructor. Before embarking on my educational pursuits, I enlisted in the United States Coast Guard where I was stationed one year abroad in Okinawa, Japan and after training at the Coast Guard station in Two Rock; I served aboard the cutter Citrus from Coos Bay, Oregon.
I received my bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles. I earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from California State University, San Jose. I taught social studies in grades 7 and 8 for ten years in Salinas, CA. I joined Petaluma City Schools as an Assistant Principal in 2007 at Kenilworth Junior High and in 2009 became an Assistant Principal at Casa Grande.
I am proud to be a part of Casa Grande’s staff where it is privilege to work alongside teachers and staff dedicated to the students and their success. As Petaluma City Schools moves toward Common Core instruction, I have co-facilitated the district math committee for the transition to the new junior and high school math curriculum for the past three years.
I live in Petaluma with my wife and family.
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Sharon Howell, Asst. Principal
Email: [email protected] Phone: (707) 778-4681 FAX: (707) 778-4687
Administrative Duties: Liaison to Depts: Science, VAPA. IEP's for RSP-Dvorin, Rankin, Terflinger, Student Services A-F, SLCs: Social Justice Academy, 10th Grade Team, Solstice. SLC Facilitors, Jump Start to JC, Post-secondary Education Data, Student Advisory Committee, Focus on Freshmen/My Ten Year Plan, UC a-g,CAASPP/SBAC Testing, Transition Team, Teacher Evaluation.
I am honored to have been an educator at Casa Grande since 2001. I served as Counselor and Head Counselor since 2001 supporting and guiding teens through the high school years. I am excited to transition to the administrative team as Assistant Principal and continue working with our administrative team, our dynamic teachers and support staff. I am fortunate to work with students and families from our Petaluma community - a wonderful city!
I have been an educator throughout my professional career, serving in many capacities, from an editor and technical writer for air traffic training materials to Kindergarten and first grade classroom aid, parent involvement coordinator, school board campaign manager, educational community grassroots organizer, early childhood educator, and teacher at both the elementary and community college levels. I’ve taught elementary grades at an international school in Bogota, Colombia; Chicago, Illinois; and Sacramento, California. I was an Adjunct Counselor and Instructor at Santa Rosa Community College from 2001 to 2008.
I have benefited from California’s three great public college systems: I transferred from Cosumnes River College in Sacramento to UCLA where I completed my BA in Psychology and completed my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I earned a Masters in Counseling from Sonoma State University and completed Sonoma State’s Educational Leadership Program in Spring 2015.
I enjoy traveling, gardening, making jewelry, and spending time with my husband and two adult children. I happily live in Penngrove, amidst the splendor of Sonoma County.
Email: [email protected] Phone: (707) 778-4681 FAX: (707) 778-4687
Administrative Duties: Liaison to Depts: Science, VAPA. IEP's for RSP-Dvorin, Rankin, Terflinger, Student Services A-F, SLCs: Social Justice Academy, 10th Grade Team, Solstice. SLC Facilitors, Jump Start to JC, Post-secondary Education Data, Student Advisory Committee, Focus on Freshmen/My Ten Year Plan, UC a-g,CAASPP/SBAC Testing, Transition Team, Teacher Evaluation.
I am honored to have been an educator at Casa Grande since 2001. I served as Counselor and Head Counselor since 2001 supporting and guiding teens through the high school years. I am excited to transition to the administrative team as Assistant Principal and continue working with our administrative team, our dynamic teachers and support staff. I am fortunate to work with students and families from our Petaluma community - a wonderful city!
I have been an educator throughout my professional career, serving in many capacities, from an editor and technical writer for air traffic training materials to Kindergarten and first grade classroom aid, parent involvement coordinator, school board campaign manager, educational community grassroots organizer, early childhood educator, and teacher at both the elementary and community college levels. I’ve taught elementary grades at an international school in Bogota, Colombia; Chicago, Illinois; and Sacramento, California. I was an Adjunct Counselor and Instructor at Santa Rosa Community College from 2001 to 2008.
I have benefited from California’s three great public college systems: I transferred from Cosumnes River College in Sacramento to UCLA where I completed my BA in Psychology and completed my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I earned a Masters in Counseling from Sonoma State University and completed Sonoma State’s Educational Leadership Program in Spring 2015.
I enjoy traveling, gardening, making jewelry, and spending time with my husband and two adult children. I happily live in Penngrove, amidst the splendor of Sonoma County.