Board selects Kravitz as new Dougherty Valley High principal

Dave Kravitz, a familiar name at San Ramon Valley schools for nearly three decades, has been appointed as the newest principal of San Ramon’s Dougherty Valley High School.

Most recently an assistant principal at Dougherty Valley, Kravitz taught several subjects during his career in the classroom and was also well-known in the area for serving as head football coach at San Ramon Valley High School for 17 seasons.

“I am proud to be a member of the DVHS community and will continue to work tirelessly to guide our school on its continuous improvement journey while preparing for the challenges that lie ahead,” he said in an email to the school community Wednesday.

The San Ramon Valley school board promoted Kravitz to the principal office following closed-session deliberations Tuesday evening in Danville. He succeeds Danny Hillman, who was hired as the school district’s director of facilities-construction in late August.

Kravitz is the fourth principal to lead the high school, which opened in 2007 and now serves close to 3,000 students in the burgeoning Dougherty Valley in eastern San Ramon.

“Mr. Kravitz is a natural to take on the leadership role at Dougherty Valley High School, where he has excelled as an assistant principal for the past three years,” superintendent Rick Schmitt said in an email to school staff and parents. “He brings a wealth of high school experience to his new role at DVHS.”

Kravitz, whose wife Shelli is in her second year as principal of San Ramon’s Twin Creeks Elementary School, began his education career in 1987 as a teacher of history and health at Monte Vista High School.

He later taught English, journalism and physical education at Benicia Middle School and San Ramon Valley High. He also led San Ramon Valley on the football field, coaching the varsity Wolves from the 1992 to 2008 seasons.

Kravitz found another leadership opportunity in 2010, moving to California High School as a teacher on special assignment and athletic director. He transitioned to administration in 2013 by joining Dougherty Valley High as an assistant principal, giving him work experience at all four comprehensive high schools in the Valley.

He said his three years at Dougherty Valley helped him work closely with key stakeholder groups of the school’s community.

“We have staff members who arrive to work every day committed to teaching your sons and daughters, and genuinely care about their academic, social and emotional growth,” he said. “Our parents also want what is best for their children and show their support through volunteerism and providing valuable feedback.”

“First and foremost though, our students take their educational pursuits seriously and work hard to grow academically and to build a dynamic and welcoming school,” he added.

Kravitz said one of his goals is to make sure all students know “there is a place for them to connect to DVHS.”

“Of course, academic success is important for each of our students; however, the relationships they build with their peers, teachers, counselors, coaches, administrators, advisors and other staff members are as important to their personal and academic growth, and will better prepare them for a fulfilling and successful future,” he added.

He acknowledged growth remains a “primary challenge” for the high school in the years ahead, as homes continue to be built throughout the Dougherty Valley.

“We will continue to evaluate and improve on ways to collectively and proactively ensure that all of our nearly 3,000 students have the opportunity to explore their interests and passions,” Kravitz said, adding that he remains focused on “building a school that is committed to the personal and academic growth and success of our young adults.”

Kravitz was selected following a search process that included district officials meeting with school stakeholders and conducting a parent survey, according to district spokeswoman Elizabeth Graswich.

Recruitment for a new principal began soon after Hillman was promoted to the district office Aug. 29 — the start of the third week of school for students. Hillman stayed on as principal until a successor was chosen.

Hillman served as Dougherty Valley principal for just under three years after taking over initially as an interim replacement for Jason Reimann, who moved to the district office in mid-2013.

Reimann led the high school for just over two years, taking the reins from Dougherty Valley’s first-ever principal, Denise Hibbard — who worked there for five years, including one year at the campus as it prepared to open for the start of the 2007-08 school year.