Albany Schools Chief Announces Retirement

The superintendent of Albany schools, Marla Stephenson, will retire at the end of the next school year, the school district announced Tuesday night.

Stephenson, who became superintendent in 2008, "will step down at the end of the next school year," according to a news release from the Albany Unified School District.

Stephenson said in a statement, “I want to give the Board of Education and the school community ample time to make a good choice in their next leader and to minimize any distraction for our outstanding teachers, classified employees, administrators and, of course, our students.”

She has worked 26 years in education, the last 14 in Albany, in the roles of teacher, principal and assistant superintendent in addition to superintendent, the district noted.

"She took the Albany superintendent job just as the economic recession and the state’s budget cuts sent school district budgets reeling," the district release said. "In spite of fiscal challenges, Albany scored successes under Stephenson’s watch.  The district’s API scores improved every year, the community passed a parcel tax, Albany High School was awarded 'California Distinguished School' status, a new Aquatics Facility was built, a district strategic plan was put into place and facilities master plan is currently being developed." 

The district statement quoted her saying, “I am proud that our district has weathered the fiscal storm of the past 5 years. We have been able to maintain music, art programs, librarians, science and physical education specialists and a 7 period day for grades 8-12. The District did not cut salary or benefits to employees and managed to maintain a healthy reserve. Thanks needs to be given to district employees who worked harder with less in order to maintain great programs for Albany students.”