Burlingame Introduces New Superintendent

Dozens of Burlingame residents crowded the Tuesday night as Dr. Maggie MacIsaac was introduced as the new superintendent of the Burlingame Elementary School District.

“That’s a benchmark event,” said Burlingame School District Board President Mark Intrieri. “[We were] presented with several stellar candidates.”

MacIsaac comes to Burlingame from Castro Valley Unified School District, where she held the assistant superintendent position. Previously, she taught and held administrative positions at the elementary, middle school and high school levels.

She holds a doctorate from the University of Laverne and is a graduate of California State University East Bay’s masters program and California State University Northridge.

MacIsaac received her teaching certificate at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga.

“I’m very honored to have been chosen,” she said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

She said she is most excited about working with the teachers, parents and students in this highly esteemed town.

“I’m most excited about working with this community,” MacIsaac said. “I’ve heard wonderful things about the community.”

MacIsaac officially begins July 1, 2011. She will replace Jud Kempson, who has been acting as interim superintendent since the early retirement of Dianne Talarico this past January due to health issues.

Talarico, who joined BSD in 2008, was recognized along with other retiring staff at the meeting. Retirees were honored with certificates of recognition from Rep. Jackie Speier, a plaque from the Burlingame Elementary School District and a framed resolution from the California School Employees Association.

There was an especially emotional farewell for the former superintendent who was unable to be at the meeting.

“Because of her open heart, all who are privileged to know Dianne know all parts of her. It truly is a gift to know Dianne,” said Kempson.  “She is such a part of us and we hope we of her. We are so much better for having been with her for that precious time than we would have ever been without her.”

Other retirees include Gail Schauer, who taught at for 23 years; Jeff Hawkins, who worked as the custodian at for 25 years; and Maria Valvarde, who served as the district delivery driver for seven years.

Also at the meeting, the Board of Trustees made a motion to explore placing a  parcel tax over a bond measure on the November 2011 ballot.