Following the Board of Education’s decision to terminate the contract of Superintendent Don Austin, the Palo Alto Educators Association released a public statement about the leadership change and its priorities for the future.
“For our members, today marks the conclusion of a difficult chapter,” the statement said. “While leadership transitions are never easy, this change is a necessary step toward healing a culture that has shown increasing strain.”
In its statement, PAEA said educators have faced an environment in recent years described as “top-down mandates” with a drop in collaborative decision making between district leadership and classroom teachers. The association pointed out concerns about staff morale and trust in the workplace.
At the same time, the union recognized Austin’s tenure.
“We acknowledge Dr. Austin’s years of service and his commitment to the operational complexities of a large district during unprecedented times,” the statement said. “We wish him and his family the best in their next chapter.”
An anonymous Palo Alto High School teacher noted immediate reactions among some staff after the announcement were positive.
“There will be celebrations tonight,” the teacher said.
The teacher also expressed hope that the leadership change would lead to better collaboration between district leadership and teachers. The teacher said district teachers and district management “want to actually work together, and that, during Austin’s management, many teachers have at times been “viewed as the problem.”
When asked about the district’s next superintendent, the teacher said they hope the Board chooses “someone who is an actual teacher with classroom experience” — a factor they said is valuable in district leadership roles.
The teacher also raised concerns about how the district communicates about the district’s budget, stating their belief that leadership has not been “entirely forthcoming about the budget.” Those claims could not be independently verified, and district officials have not publicly responded to the specific allegations.
In its statement, PAEA said it is focused on what it calls a “culture reset.” According to the union, this “reset” would involve rebuilding trust between educators and district leaders and focusing on transparency in decision-making and budgeting.
“Our schools thrive when there is a true partnership between the district office, the Board of Education, and the educators in the classroom,” PAEA said in its statement. “We call on the board to conduct a transparent search for new leadership, someone who prioritizes student well-being, respects the expertise of our staff, and understands that the strength of PAUSD lies in its people, not its policies.”
