CHICO — Erica Sheridan has the distinction of being the first woman in the Chico Unified School District to serve as a high school principal.
Sheridan, who started Monday as principal of Chico High School, was assistant principal for eight years and then applied for and went through the long hiring process for principal.
“I think Chico High is on a great track,” Sheridan said. “We have a fantastic group of professionals who care about kids.”
Erica Sheridan (Dorian Studios/Contributed)
Sheridan believes student safety is extremely important.
“We are always looking at student safety and trying to better learn the dynamics,” Sheridan said. “We help kids get plugged in and find their niche or passion or hobby. My kids pursued their passions and I want that for every Chico High kid. It’s our job to move them through the gauntlet of high school to get to the next level.”
Sheridan’s work has always been important to her, but having a family was her top priority. Sheridan has three kids.
“I was available to be a mom,” Sheridan said. “Being assistant principal was satisfying, but I wanted to make sure my kids were turning out OK.”
Sheridan advises other women in education that their families should be their first priority.
“That’s a noble thing,” Sheridan said. “To be a mom and have a career is a big undertaking. Raise your family and still chase professional goals.”
She also advises women to keep an open mind in their careers.
“You never know where your career path will lead you,” she said. “Doors might open that you didn’t expect. Take advantage of the twists and turns. Be willing to be courageous and take risks.”
CUSD assistant superintendent of educational services Jay Marchant has known Sheridan for 15 years. Sheridan worked as assistant principal when Marchant was principal at Marsh Junior High School.
“Erica is very knowledgeable of the curriculum,” Marchant said. “She is very driven to meet the needs of all of her students. She has worked very hard learning her craft and understands the facets of what is going on. And her being bilingual is a bonus.”
Marchant said Sheridan is very intelligent.
“She works with teachers and has amazing classroom management skills. She is a good educator and leader. She works extremely hard and is very organized and thoughtful,” he said.
Chico High assistant principal Sara Pasillas has known Sheridan for seven years.
“She has been an excellent colleague, and we’ve also become very good friends,” Pasillas said. “She wants kids to be taken care of and I believe she feels a true sense of purpose every day at work. She believes in the power of education and takes her role in the lives of young people very seriously but also knows how to laugh at herself and with the kids too.”
Pasillas looks forward to working with Sheridan in her new role.
“I’m excited to work with Erica as she starts her tenure as principal,” Pasillas said. “Erica has earned this job by simply being the most qualified person to lead (Chico High) right now. I think it’s good for our students to see examples of qualified, strong women being thoughtful, good leaders and Erica is certainly an example of that.”
Pasillas believes CUSD superintendent Kelly Staley has verged the path for women.
“Staley is a strong female leader herself. In the time that I’ve worked with Kelly, she has prioritized hiring good, quality educators in the classroom and at the district level. When women are the best candidates, I believe they are hired and given the opportunity to support education in Chico Unified,” Pasillas said.
Sheridan is from the Bay Area and graduated from Chico State with a Bachelor of Arts degree in bilingual liberal studies and received her teaching credential in the Bay Area. She met her husband at Chico State and, after being overwhelmed by housing prices in the bay, they decided to return to Chico in 2001.
Sheridan worked as assistant principal at Marsh Junior High School for six years, was principal at Chatman Elementary School for one year and taught elementary school in Chico and in the Bay Area for 15 years.
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