Longtime District "Superhero" Says Goodbye

The courtyards were quiet, no children in sight, but a busy and alert as ever Tim Sullivan could be found in his office, surveying the bookshelves and file cabinets before packing it all in one last time.

The now former principal of Skyline Elementary School arrived bright and early the morning after the school’s final day of instruction to get started on the packing process, preparing to embark on a retirement he announced to parents and students earlier this past school year.

After 38 years working in various roles for the , 13 of which were spent as principal of Skyline, Sullivan decided that this year would be his last.

“I’ve been going to school for 55 years, and it’s about time I graduated,” he joked when asked by students why he was leaving.

A surprise party planned by parents, staff and students last week commemorated Sullivan’s mark on Skyline, with students helping to trick their principal into an after-school gathering thrown by more than 250 guests, including Sullivan’s family.

“I looked out the window [after school] and said ‘What are all those kids doing out there?’” he explained of the ruse, adding that after being sent to investigate some children who were playing in the school’s sprinklers, he was led into the multi-use room, where friends and family were waiting to lavish gifts and praise upon him, including a bobblehead doll custom-made in his image and donning a Superman costume, and the dedication of a school garden in his name.

As PTA president, and longtime colleague of Sullivan’s, Suzanne Murri remarked, his impact on the school community came from a hands-on approach to education and administration.

“He is out there with the kids all the time,” Murri explained. “He’s been so supportive of the PTA – he’s a very involved principal.”

A lifelong career in education began immediately after Sullivan earned a teaching credential from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He landed a job teaching biology and math at and ended up working as an educator at three different levels within the district. He served as assistant principal at both and and principal at , Foxridge and Monte Verde elementary schools before settling in for a longer stay at Skyline.

Sullivan is leaving with a legacy of consistent improvement over the past few years: Skyline has seen a steady rise in test scores among all groups since 2008, and the school earned the title of California Distinguished School for 2010.

“I just felt right about going now,” Sullivan said of the timing for his leave. “I feel comfortable that everything will be alright.”

Amidst his trademark Spiderman posters and photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and vacations to Venice that decorate his office, Sullivan reflected on some of the biggest achievements and greatest hardships of his career. He said one of his biggest challenges was working to join two distinct school communities as principal through the closing of Foxridge School and the subsequent merger with Monte Verde Elementary School.

“The first week of school, we had two portable classrooms that weren’t there yet,” he said of the experience, which ultimately earned him a Golden Apple award. “It was quite a challenge, but in the end it came out really well, and we had a great community.”

Sullivan said his proudest accomplishment in education was working with Skyline staff and parents to improve test scores and create a more community-based atmosphere. It was important to him to improve not just academic standards but to create well-rounded students.  

“The parents here are very supportive of the school,” Sullivan remarked while explaining how this year’s pilot “School Smarts Parent Academy” program helped to bridge gaps between staff and parents by engaging them in a series of workshops to get them more involved in their children’s education.

Sullivan explained that the program was one of many that demonstrated the Skyline community’s drive to give students the best possible education, adding that having a staff that is willing to jump in and fill whatever roles become necessary has helped make his job easier over the years.

“This has been the best experience of all,” he said. “It’s been a real pleasure to be here the last 13 years. Very few people can say they enjoy what they do.”

As Murri attested, the feelings of gratitude and appreciation between Sullivan and his staff, teachers and students are mutual.

“All the children and parents love him,” she said. “I think they’re really going to miss his presence.”

Walking through Skyhawk Hall, Sullivan showed off photos of the school’s various fundraising projects over the years, many of which featured him playing out a dare in support of donors reaching a set goal for money raised. Some photos showed the respected but still playful principal donning a Spiderman costume, shaving his moustache and even shaving his head, all to help build enthusiasm and the sense of community that he stresses has been such a big part of Skyline’s success.

As he explained, treating the students like equals rather than talking down to them has provided a recipe for building good relationships and mutual respect.

“The Spiderman stuff and the rest are the hooks,” he said. “They help them to not be afraid to come into my office. You talk to them like they’re little people and show an interest in what they have to say, and you can learn from them.”

Although he says he will miss his colleagues and seeing the kids on a daily basis, Sullivan foresees no shortage of activity in his near future. Two weeks after watching his son get married, he is already looking toward his daughter’s wedding two months from now, which will be closely followed by his youngest brother’s wedding. In addition to the multiple nuptials ahead, he plans on filling his time with hobbies like photography, golf, travel and, of course, lots of family time.

“I haven’t quite decided what I want to do yet,” he said of his long-term plans, but laughingly added, “I’m anticipating grandchildren soon.”

In the more immediate future, he will spend the next two weeks cleaning out his office and saying goodbye to a place that he says became a sort of “family atmosphere” for him, taking away mementos that hint at the many lives he affected along the way.

“The thing about this job is that it’s different every day,” he said, while helping move materials out of the multi-use room. “It’s never boring. You make a lot of decisions that affect people’s lives and you get a lot of feedback. It’s very rewarding.”