New Principal to Join Cherry Valley

Mary Collins at Cherry Valley has a new principal.

Chad Carvey comes to Petaluma City Schools from the Brisbane School District where he spent four years as principal and the Ross Valley School District before that.

School officials say the new principal’s strong visual arts and environmental education background make him a perfect fit for the charter school. When he moves into his new office, Carvey will not only be bringing decades of experience, but a few quirky personal objects that are sure to please the student body.

Among them: a rescued red tailed hawk named “Chinook,’ a ventriloquist dummy and a passion for cooking (Carvey claims Cherry Valley will be the best fed staff in the district).

The incoming principal has a Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Drama at California State University, Stanislaus and his Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Administrative Services Credential at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Carvey also received a Single Subject Credential in Social Science and Drama as well as a Multiple Subjects at Bethany College of California.

He and his wife Carolyn, currently live on their 43’ Hans Christian Cutter sailboat, “Tambadil” with Jib their Wheaten Terrier.  They have two children, their son Paris, who recently completed his tour of duty in the US Marine Corps and their daughter Noelle who recently graduated from the San Francisco School of Digital Film, and two grandchildren.

Carvey begins his new job at Mary Collins on July 1, 2013 and replaces interim principals Sheila Garvey and Kathleen Larson.

Have school news? Drop Local Editor Karina Ioffee a line at karina@patch.com