New principals selected

After serving as vice principal of Carson Middle School for three years, Sam Santillo was selected Tuesday night to become its principal.

"I'm a little choked up," said Santillo, who attended the meeting with his wife, mother and sister. "I believe in Carson Middle School -- I am Carson Middle School. I'm going to whatever it takes to make that school successful."

Kathy Adair, vice principal of Eagle Valley Middle School, was chosen from among nine applicants to be principal of Mark Twain Elementary School during the Carson City School Board meeting.

Adair was out of town for spring break this week and did not attend the meeting.

Both positions will be vacant at the end of this school year. Mark Twain Principal Mary Garey will return to Omaha, Neb., to care for her ailing parents.

Tom Badillo, principal of Carson Middle School, will retire after 25 years with the district.

Adair and Santillo began as administrators through the district's intern program, which allows employees to intern in administrative positions, much like student teaching.

"We're trying to train people within our own community because we feel people who are invested in the community offer us our best opportunities," said district Superintendent Mary Pierczynski. "Although we not adverse to hiring outside the district if someone is more qualified."

She said the program, which began in 1995, helped the two prepare for their new positions.

"I think they're both going to be real good people for the job," she said.

Santillo became acquainted with the Carson City School District as a second-grader and went graduated from Carson High School in 1982.

He worked in the district for nine years as a teacher then was intern vice principal of Eagle Valley Middle School, as well as Carson Middle School.

Adair, wife of Carson High School Principal Glen Adair, was a counselor at Carson Middle School for eight years and an intern dean for one year before becoming vice principal of Eagle Valley Middle School in 2000.