Travel-loving Petaluma schools chief announces leave of absence

Petaluma City Schools Superintendent Matthew Harris has announced plans to take nearly all of the next school year off to travel with his family.

“I have requested to take an unpaid leave of absence for 10 months of the 2024-25 school year, beginning at the end of August,” he announced May 24 in a district-wide email.

In his stead, the district will bring in two recently retired school superintendents to successively guide the district until Harris returns in July 2025.

“Dr. Esmeralda Mondragón, the former superintendent in Calistoga, will lead in the fall,” Harris stated. “Dr. Louann Carlomagno, who is retiring from Hillsborough this year, will lead in the spring. … In addition, Mr. Tony Hua will be elevated to deputy superintendent to create a seamless leadership structure.”

Mondragón and Carlomagno, described as “acting, part-time superintendents,” are set to be introduced at the school board’s June 18 meeting. The board approved Harris’ leave of absence at its May 28 meeting – and even released a notice of its own, signed by all five board members, stating that “We are genuinely happy to support Matthew Harris’ request for a leave of absence in the next academic year. We believe this leave will increase his longevity in our district, and he has certainly earned it.”

“With this job, I am always on,” Harris told the Argus-Courier. “If I take a day off, if there’s an emergency, I’m on.”

By setting aside his $291,000 salary for 10 months, the arrangement is financially “about cost-neutral” for the district, he noted.

Currently, he said, his focus is on graduation. And he will remain in place through the summer, to help with a smooth transition.

After that, Harris will get on a plane with his wife and five children, and travel.

“We view this as an opportunity for our children to see the world,” he said. But above all, he said, it’s an opportunity to reconnect and rejuvenate with his family – their children are ages 13, 12, 9, 7 and 2½ – after several years working in an “all-consuming position.”

“I have seen the impact on my family. And I always talk about putting family first,” he said.

The leave, he emphasized, is “For my own health, and for the health of my family.”

Harris came to Petaluma City Schools in 2012 as a principal at McKinley Elementary School. Six years later, he said, he went to then-superintendent Gary Callahan with a request to take a year off for travel. Harris, who was already well-traveled and speaks five languages, said seeing the world is “something that replenishes my spirit.”

But instead of granting his wish, Callahan promoted him – to assistant superintendent of human resources.

Three years later, he again asked Callahan for a leave of absence. But by then Callahan was preparing to announce his retirement – and was ready to nominate Harris as his successor.

Harris took the job in 2021. After three more years passed, he said, he began talking to board members about a leave of absence, explaining to them that “If this is too much to ask, I totally understand.”

But they were “incredibly supportive,” he said, adding that further support has come from administrators, teachers and parents in the district.

As to where they’re going, an itinerary is not yet set. But possible destinations include England, Italy, Greece, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, the Galapagos Islands and Guatemala.

As certified teachers, he and his wife Elizabeth plan to school their children while abroad. “We want to keep them on pace with their peer group,” he said.

Then next July, Harris said, they will “Come back refreshed, (and) refocus on our goals.”

Don Frances is editor of the Petaluma Argus-Courier. Reach him at don.frances@arguscourier.com.