A few teachers complain about principal, while others praise him
for his work at school
Morgan Hill – Britton Middle School will have a new principal next year, as Principal Russom Mesfun leaves the district to take a job closer to his home in Antioch.
Mesfun announced his resignation Wednesday, but Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Alan Nishino said he has known since he came to the district as superintendent last June that Mesfun would be moving on.
“When I first came on board, I spoke with every administrator, and when I spoke to Russom, he told me, ‘I have to get closer to home, my wife is concerned about me driving that distance,’ ” Nishino said.
Some parents and teachers have sent e-mails and phoned The Times in recent months to voice concerns that Mesfun was being heavy-handed with students and staff, but cited “fear of retaliation” as a reason not to go on the record with their comments and concerns.
Mesfun’s decision to leave has nothing to do with that, Nishino said.
Seven staff members and one custodian will not be returning to Britton next year.
Mesfun would not discuss the staff changes.
Nishino confirmed that neither he nor Mesfun could discuss Mesfun’s actions with the staff, but said that the former principal is “very student-centered,” and believes Mesfun took action with students in mind.
However, The Times received a letter from a student describing what she termed her “humiliation” by Mesfun, saying she and other students were afraid of him after he allegedly accused her of “planning and organizing a walk-in (to the principal’s office), preventing him from doing his job as a principal, sticking (her) nose where it did not belong, committing a suspendable offense.”
Mesfun said he had a good relationship with his students.
“We have wonderful students at Britton, the best kids anyone could ask for, and I’m very attached to the parents as well,” he said Monday. “They are wonderfully engaged parents. We have a staff that worked so hard, an incredibly dedicated staff. Unfortunately, I found it necessary to find a position closer to home. I would have liked to continue at Britton.”
Mesfun has been hired as principal at Christa McAuliffe Middle School, in the Lodi Unified School District, in Stockton.
