Schools

Family Takes Priority as San Jose Principal Gives Notice

Chona Killeen said he is moving to L.A. at the end of the school year to be with her ailing father.

Chona Killeen said she has worked hard to make the community feel like a family. It sort of had a Brady Bunch quality to it — 400 San Jose returning students welcoming in 250 kids from the recently closed a few miles to the north. New kids, new teachers, new parents. Yes, it might have been a family, but it had some cousins who hadn't been introduced before.

Seven months after the merger, adjustments and friendships have been made. Now, Killeen said her own family has to take priority over everything else.

In an interview Monday morning in her office, Killeen said the well-being of her elderly father is becoming more of a focal point in her life, prompting her to leave the at the end of the school year and move with her husband to Southern California.

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"I'm feeling it's OK to relocate because we've had a fantastic year here (at San Jose)," said Killeen, who oversaw the closure of Hill last year before taking the San Jose job. "We have a long list of achievements, and I'll be leaving the school in a good state."

Leslie Benjamin, public information officer for the school district, said she spoke with Superintendent Shalee Cunningham about Killeen's pending departure on Monday morning. The principal position was advertised beginning on March 23, Benjamin said.

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"The district is appreciative for all Chona's work, both at Hill and at San Jose," Benjamin said. "We'll miss her and wish her the best of luck when she moves to Southern California."

Killeen's departure was made public on March 14 when she was out of the office, not only under the weather but dealing with a cell phone on the fritz during a field trip. The news was passed around San Jose Middle School without Killeen getting a chance to release a statement to staff, kids or parents. Then she had to make a trip to see her father despite being sick herself.

She said Monday it was unfortunate the news got out the way it did — a viewpoint echoed by district officials — but that things are settling down again.

"Today was my first day back, and I spoke with the staff this morning," she said. "I shared with them what was going on with my family and that I have to relocate to be with my family."

Killeen said her dad, a former teacher and Department of Corrections employee, is in his 80s and not doing well. She has a brother and sister in the Los Angeles area, too. Her mother lives in the Philippines, the country from which Killeen and her family emigrated when she was 10 years old.

"I'm very much a Southern California girl," she said as she pointed to a Los Angeles Lakers poster in her office. "It was '72, the year they won a championship."

A year ago Killeen had a job offer for a principal position in the L.A. area, but she said was committed to helping the Hill kids make the transition to San Jose.

"I wanted to come here because this is a community I have loved — the kids, the parents — and I had tremendous support," she said. "If I had taken the job and things didn't go well with the transition, especially with everything that happened last year, I would have been forever upset. I wanted to make sure the kids' transition went well, and I really think it has."

Killeen said she hopes to continue focusing on student achievement through the end of the school year. She said Vice Principal Paige Gardner and teacher James Larson, who led the school last week when Killeen was out, would continue to play important roles on campus.

"Ultimately this was a good merger and the transition has gone well," she said. "I just feel very fortunate that I'm surrounded by these talented students who work hard and don't give up. We have good teachers who guide them. Parents definitely have not seen this kind of dedicated support, and that's something we're all really proud about."


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