Archie Williams High School Principal Liz Seabury takes temporary leave for new district position
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Photo of Liz Seabury, principal of Archie Williams High School/Sir Francis Drake High School/HS1327 for 9 years.
Archie Williams High School (AWHS) Principal, Liz Seabury, has taken a temporary leave to begin a special assignment in the Educational Services Department at the Tamalpais School District Office. As the new Senior Director of Inclusion Instruction and Intervention, Seabury will work to create strategies to help students whose education has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. She will assume her new position on Jul. 1 of 2021 and will last for approximately two years. During this time Redwood High School’s current assistant principal, LaSandra White, will take Seabury’s position as the AWHS principal.
COVID-19 has negatively impacted many students’ ability to learn across the district and the country. According to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 1 in 7 children have missed three-quarters of in-person learning this school year. This disturbing trend is something that, to Seabury, is an important issue and one where she feels she can make a difference.
“[This position] really is an opportunity to go into the schools to look at how we are helping kids who struggle, particularly with what is happening with COVID-19, but also in the big picture,” Seabury said.
Despite the fact that this issue is one that Seabury finds important, the position is only temporary, as the assignment is dependent on money set aside by the state. Seabury appreciates the fact that this is a temporary job, as she “loves being a principal.” After her new position, Seabury will have the opportunity to come back to her current position as AWHS principal, or to apply for another position within the district.
Seabury has known White for 9 years, and despite Seabury’s tinge of disappointment of leaving AWHS, she believes that the school will be in good hands.
“LaSandra White is so awesome, she is going to be so good for this school,” Seabury said.
Nate Severin, assistant principal at AWHS, has known Seabury ever since he was an athletic director at the school. After knowing Seabury for so long, Severin describes his feeling about Seabury’s new position as “bittersweet.”
“I am both excited and happy for her because I see it as another opportunity for her to have a larger impact on students, but I will be sad to see her go. She has also done a lot for this school as far as change and making it a place that is more inclusive for all students,” Severin said.
In Seabury’s new position, she will work closely with her supervisor and Assistant Superintendent of Education Services in the Tamalpais School District, Kimberlee Armstrong. Armstrong says that when the job as Senior Director of Inclusion Instruction and Intervention was posted a month ago, there were “several applicants,” and out of them, Seabury was selected. Armstrong also said that Seabury’s new job position had nothing to do with the controversial AWHS name change, which was facilitated by Seabury.White declined to comment, as she cannot say anything public about her new position at AWHS until after the Tamalpais School Board meeting until May 25, where the TUHSD community will formally discuss her new position at AWHS.
Henry is a senior in high school, who loves to play tennis and enjoys spending time outdoors hiking.
Alexandra Fry • May 23, 2021 at 1:14 PM
Interesting that the only newspaper covering this very important story is run by students. With the coverage of the past year, one would think this would be front page news of the Marin IJ. I applaud the reporters of the Williams newspaper for informing the community of such important news. Also, happy to see Ms White get the appreciation she deserves.
Brian Godfrey • May 22, 2021 at 1:46 PM
Liz Seabury, certainly is part of the flawed, no public vote allowed, process, to change the name of Sir Francis Drake High School.
Archie Williams was a great man in many ways. Archie Williams was a well respected, contributor to Sir Francis Drake High School, San Anselmo, Marin County, and beyond. Yes, Archie Williams does deserve to be honored.
Instead of changing the name of our high school, why not create “Archie Williams Sports Complex”? This would include all the sports facilities at Sir Francis Drake High School. This way, Archie Williams’ legacy will continue indefinitely.
My brother, sister, and I, attended Sir Francis Drake High School. At no time, did anyone we know, discuss changing the name of our high school.
The name of our high school, Sir Francis Drake High School, should be remain in place now, and for future generations. Thank you.
Tim McDermott • May 22, 2021 at 1:35 PM
So principal Seabury is now being promoted to Senior Director of Inclusion Instruction and Intervention. After the fiasco of the name change, it would appear she has a lot to learn about both of those subjects.
Brian Godfrey • May 22, 2021 at 12:25 PM
My issue with this process, is most certainly not with Archie Williams.
Archie Williams was a great man in many ways. Archie Williams was well respected, contributor to Sir Francis Drake High School, San Anselmo, Marin County, and beyond.
Yes, Archie Williams does deserve to be honored. Why not create “Archie Williams Sports Complex”? This would include all the sports facilities at Sir Francis Drake High School. This way, Archie Williams’ legacy will be honored and preserved.
But why spend over $400K to change the name of our high school? Just to make a few individuals happy?
The name, Sir Francis Drake High School, has been in place for over 70 years. Why change now?
My view is, this is all about power and control. While Liz Seabury and others are the centerpiece of this “power play”, who is above them, telling them to push for this name change?
In my view, the issue here, is not about race, Archie Williams, or anyone else. Why was there not a public vote on whether or not we are in favor, or not in favor of changing our high school’s name? This in itself is 100% wrong and unacceptable.
I may only be one voice. However, I refuse to accept the outcome, unless or until students, alumni, and the residents of San Anselmo, Fairfax, and surrounding communities, are allowed to cast our votes.
The name of our high school, Sir Francis Drake High School, should be remain in place now, and for future generations. Thank you.