Principal Tom Drescher announced on November 6 that he will be resigning to pursue a degree in Educational Leadership. Drescher’s resignation, effective June 30, will mark the end of his six years at Tam High.
“I’m excited but disappointed because he’s been an absolutely fabulous principal and teammate, and we’re really going to miss him,” Tamalpais Union High School District Superintendent Laurie Kimbrel said. “I think he’s had a lot of great experience here and he’s going to bring that to a lot of lucky students in a lucky district somewhere.”
Tam has been Drescher’s first principalship.
“I love the school, love the school community… I’m in a spot where I’ve been able to grow,” Drescher said.
The district will begin the search for a new principal in the spring. Kimbrel emphasized that the next principal will be hired with support from the Tam community.
“We’ll have community forums, forums of students, and forums of staff to make a list of the characteristics that they think we need in the next principal. From there we’ll develop a profile of the person we’re looking for, and we’ll recruit,” Kimbrel said.
After leaving, Drescher plans to complete his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Francisco State, which he has been working on for the past four years.
“I’m ready to embark on a new journey, to try something a little bit different. I’m finishing my doctorate,” he said. “I’m exploring options for getting a district-level position next year.” Drescher doesn’t anticipate any openings in the Tamalpais District, and says he will likely look elsewhere.
His departure closely follows Assistant Principal Brian Lynch’s replacement of Chad Stuart earlier this year.
“I think that losing Drescher is a huge loss,” senior and Associated Student Body Treasurer Nestor Teodoro said. “We lost the assistant principal last year and so I feel like all of Tam’s treasured staff members, for the seniors at least, are leaving… I hope that the new principal is equally as connected with the students.”
Not all students knew Drescher well. “As an underclassman, I hadn’t really had the chance to get to know him, but he was a good principal,” sophomore Dave Peters said. “I’m not sure who should replace him, but hopefully someone who will do a good job as a principal and improve life at Tam.”
Drescher says he has been pleased with the progress made at Tam over the past few years. “A number of things have improved. We’ve been able to bring on a great group of teachers. I feel like the athletic programs have improved. Instruction has improved, the quality of teacher collaboration… For me, it’s the concept of getting us from good to great,” he said.
Still, he acknowledges that there is always room to be better. “We’ve historically had an achievement gap… I feel like we’ve closed that a little bit, but it’s not enough. Its needs to be a focal point for all that we do,” Drescher said. “As school there are a few things we can’t control. We can’t control people’s background or their upbringing, but we can have a greater impact on learning than on anything else.”
Drescher remains optimistic about the future. “I’ve made some lifelong relationships with people,” he said. “I’ll be able to rely on this group—personal and professional—for years to come.”