Homegrown principals for Carson schools

Congratulations to two new Carson City school principals -- Sam Santillo at Carson Middle School and Kathy Adair at Mark Twain Elementary -- and also to the school district for consistently finding quality replacements from within.

The promotions mean the loss of two other quality administrators, Tom Badillo, who is retiring after 25 years, and Mary Garey, who is returning to Omaha, Neb. Their services will be missed.

There can be disadvantages to hiring from within as often as Carson City School District does, but the track record of the district's choices and its program for training potential school leaders have shown the advantages are greater.

Superintendent Mary Pierczynski, one of the prime examples of moving up through the ranks, noted the district concentrates on promoting from within because "we feel people who are invested in the community offer us our best opportunities."

Santillo, who started in Carson City schools in second grade and is a Carson High graduate who became a teacher and administrator, and Adair, with a dozen years in the school district as counselor and administrators, are the latest proof of that philosophy.

In the long run, the practice of regularly offering career opportunities to its employees strengthens the district, enables it to attract energetic and ambitious people, and provides on-going incentives for its best people to remain in Carson City.