Petaluma City Schools Names New Superintendent
Davina Goldwasser comes to Petaluma from the San Francisco Unified School District
The next superintendent to lead Petaluma City Schools will be Davina Goldwasser, replacing outgoing Superintendent Matthew Harris in July.
Goldwasser comes to Petaluma with over 25 years in public education, most recently at the San Francisco Unified School District as the assistant superintendent of high schools and college and career readiness, according to a May 22 announcement from Petaluma City Schools board president Mady Cloud.
Goldwasser is also a former Kentfield School District board member and has worked as a classroom teacher, community resource director, and school leader at districts across the Bay Area, according to the announcement.
Her employment is set to begin July 1 and continue through June 30, 2029, according to the contract. She will have a 223-day work year and earn a base salary of $290,000 (down from Harris’ salary of $291,608). She will also earn an allowance of $200 per month plus an additional authorization to charge $200 per month on a district-issued credit card per the contract.
Goldwasser’s arrival comes at a time when Petaluma City Schools is grappling with the loss of one-time COVID-era funding and the departure of several top administrators.
In early 2026, the district approved $6.1 million in budget cuts, which eliminated 44 full-time positions.
Since July 2025, three assistant superintendents – Tony Hua, Jason Sutter, and Esmeralda Sanchez Moseley – have left or will leave the district by the end of this school year (June 30). The district also cut its communications coordinator role and, earlier this year, Superintendent Harris announced his departure.
To replace two of the three outgoing positions, the district hired Kirsten Grimm as assistant superintendent of educational services and Jennifer Hansen as assistant superintendent of human resources. In March, Maité Iturri, from Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District nearly joined Petaluma City Schools as superintendent before deciding to stay in the neighboring district.
Board president Cloud highlighted Goldwasser’s experience as the child of immigrants, a native Spanish speaker, and a first-generation college graduate, saying it shaped her professional experience.
The Petaluma City Schools Board of Education approved Goldwasser’s appointment at its May 26 meeting. She will oversee the education of more than 7,100 students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade at 18 schools.
In February, Harris announced his upcoming departure from Petaluma City Schools at the end of the school year after 14 years in the role. It is unclear what his next steps will be, however he previously indicated he will remain in the Petaluma area.
He did not immediately respond to an emailed inquiry.
Other changes
Several other leadership changes within Petaluma City Schools are also happening this year. The leaders of two schools will switch places: Michael Mori, the current principal of Penngrove Elementary, will switch roles with Katie Pisciotta, the assistant principal of Casa Grande High School, according to the district.
Additionally, Angela Riley, the assistant principal of McKinley Elementary School and its Petaluma Accelerated Charter School, will become the school’s principal. Heather Ramme will be the new director of technology, innovation, and enrollment.
The new director of PCS' South County Consortium program is Cathy Wisor, who previously worked as a coordinator of special services at Santa Rosa City Schools.
