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By Dave Boyce
Almanac Staff Writer

Diane Burbank is the new principal of Woodside High School, according to James Lianides, superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School District. She comes from Prospect High School in Saratoga, where she was the principal since 2008.

Ms. Burbank takes the place of David Reilly, who left Woodside High in June after five years as principal to become the district's new assistant superintendent for human resources.

The district hired Ms. Burbank on May 30 for a salary of $154,925, Mr. Reilly told the Almanac.

Before her time at Prospect High, Ms. Burbank spent five years as principal of Aptos High School in Aptos in Santa Cruz County. Prior to that, she worked at Cupertino High School, Gunn High School and JLS Middle School in Palo Alto, and Newark Junior High School in Newark.

"Diane impressed the interview committee with her enthusiasm, experience, leadership, and knowledge of instruction," Mr. Lianides said. "We are looking forward to having Diane join our district and carry forward the many strong programs in place at Woodside High School."

The Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce named Ms. Burbank principal of the year in 2011, Mr. Lianides said.

Ms. Burbank has an undergraduate degree in English and education from the University of Denver, according to an online bio at the Prospect High website. She has two master's degrees from Stanford University: in education and public policy.

She is married to Steven Burbank, a fifth-grade teacher at Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos.

Ms. Burbank is listed as a Stanford Principal Fellow along with Menlo-Atherton High Principal Matthew Zito, former Woodside High Principal David Reilly and former Everest Public (Charter) High School Executive Director Jon Deane.

This program is "designed to challenge and strengthen exceptional, early career principals," according to the program's website. Among the characteristics sought in administrators nominated to it are leadership ability, curiosity, concern about social justice and ability as a coach, mentor and "critical friend."

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