People Watch
School Administrator, October 2017


Sarah Koligian
After six years leading Tulare Joint Union High School District in Tulare, Calif., Sarah Koligian has taken the superintendency of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District in Rancho Cordova, Calif. She spent most of her career in Fresno’s Central Unified School District, where she began as a resource teacher at Madison Elementary School and served as associate superintendent of educational services. In 2007, Koligian became superintendent of the Golden Valley Unified School District in Madera, Calif. An AASA member since 2012, she received her Ed.D. in educational leadership from California State University, Fresno.


Matt Landahl
Matt Landahl has assumed the superintendency in the Beacon, N.Y., City School District. Now in his 24th year in education, he spent the last five years in the Ithaca, N.Y., City School District as deputy superintendent, chief academic officer and chief elementary officer. Previously, Landahl worked as principal of two elementary schools in Albemarle County, Va. He earned his doctoral de-gree in education administration and supervision from the University of Virginia. Landahl has been a member of AASA since 2016.



Demond A. Means
Following a 23-year tenure in his native Wisconsin, Demond Means has assumed the superintendency of the Clarke County School District in Athens, Ga. Most recently, Means was the superintendent for nine years of the Mequon-Thiensville School District, where he earlier was assistant superintendent. Means previously was director of human resources at Wauwatosa School District and principal at Maple Dale Middle School in Fox Point, Wis. A member of AASA’s inaugural National Superintendent Certification Program class, he earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. Means joined AASA in 2007.


Tamara A. Sterling
Tamara Sterling is the new superintendent in Franklin, Va., after spending three years as director of secondary education for the 5,200-student Accomack County, Va., Public Schools. Sterling came to Virginia after stints as principal of Hope High School in Providence, R.I., Worthing Senior High School in Houston and Simeon Career Academy High School in Chicago. She began as a special education teacher. A graduate of AASA’s Urban Superintendents Academy, she is a first-year member of AASA.




SIDELIGHT
As a child, Andre Ravenelle spent Sundays at the home of his French Canadian grandmother, where card playing was a pastime. While relatives shuffled, he drew images spotted on the back of extra decks. In his 13th year at the helm of schools in Fitchburg, Mass., Ravenelle still makes time for pastel painting and art classes. His home studio is lined with his drawings of landscapes and still lifes — some of which he donates to fundraisers or sells in Cape Cod galleries. In pre-educator days, he worked full time as a potter. “I use that experience with a lot of parents who are wor-ried about their child not going straight to college,” says Ravenelle, an AASA member since 2000. “Everyone has a different journey. It’s just about finding your passion.”









APPOINTMENTS


News about AASA members’ promotions, retirements, honors and deaths should be addressed to: Editor, School Administrator, 1615 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Fax: 703-841-1543. E-mail: magazine@aasa.org