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Las Lomitas Elementary School District Superintendent Beth Polito returned to work in January after taking medical leave in June 2023 after being diagnosed with leukemia at the start of June. Polito is still in the recovery phase but has been supported by others in the district who are excited to have her back in her role.
“It’s great to hear her voice steering our ship,” said Mei Chan LLESD’s chief business officer.
When Polito announced that she would be taking a leave, Chan said her heart sank but the district office continued to push forward during Polito’s absence.
While receiving treatment at Santa Clara Kaiser Permanente, Polito was working remotely during her leave. In October she underwent a bone marrow transplant at Stanford Hospital from an anonymous donor and stopped working while she was in recovery until January.
She said “it was really hard” to take a step back from her role but was glad to “have a great interim superintendent.” During Polito’s leave, Assistant Superintendent Shannon Potts served as part-time interim superintendent, although she was set to retire in June 2023.
“Shannon and the (school) board really kept up all the work that had been set up,” said Polito. “They kept the work moving forward and it was a really smooth transition.”
Board member Jason Morimoto expressed that changes went smoothly thanks to Polito’s great leadership in building a strong team that could function even in her absence. The district staff “were focused on Beth taking care of herself,” Morimoto said.
Throughout her treatment, Polito regularly updated the district staff on how much she could be involved in district work and where she was in her recovery process.
“It was great to be back at work in January but I was probably pushing it too far in the beginning,” Polito said.
During the first months of her return to work, she wasn’t able to be in contact with many people to prevent exposure to illness while in recovery but now she’s working 75% in person.
Polito said she is doing well and is in post-transplant recovery and on medication to mitigate the body from rejecting the bone marrow donation and a genetic mutation that Polito carries that makes cancer more aggressive.
What she missed the most was her district office team and “getting to see the kids do their thing and to see them growing and learning.”
“I feel grateful that I have a support system and I had work I was able to return to in a meaningful way,” said Polito, who served as a bone marrow donor for her brother who was also diagnosed with leukemia 25 years ago.
While she was away, she received lots of letters from staff and students — many that she’s still reading through.
“I very much appreciate the outreach that occurred while I was ill and how generous and kind the staff has been in keeping me in their thoughts and not being shy to share it,” expressed Polito.
To celebrate her recovery process, she went on a health and wellness retreat in the Woodside mountains with her best friend during spring break, enjoying her time hiking and exercising.
“She’s come back stronger than ever,” said Chan. ”She has become an even better leader.”
Polito asks that that any donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at lls.org.
Wishing Beth a speedy recovery!!! ♥♥