Rani Goyal, PhD
Windsor,CA
Summary
Proven leader in leadership development with strong work ethic and adaptability. Led equity-focused professional development initiatives, improving hiring practices and community engagement. Skilled in data analysis and team collaboration, resulting in enhanced student achievement and organizational effectiveness. Recognized for improving operational efficiency and managing multiple projects effectively.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Sonoma County Office of Education
Santa Rosa, CA
06.2023 - 06.2025
- Negotiation lead for management for SEIU (classified) and ASCOE (certificated) units
- Facilitated conversations with LEA Human Resource leads through HR Roundtables
- Developed mission statement for the SCOE Human Resources Department
- Developed stronger policies and procedures grounded in equity and best practices for interviewing and hiring
- Focused professional development for Human Resources Services (HRS) department and North Coast School of Education on equity and the findings from the equity audit
- Serving LEAs more directly with the sub consortium by completing reference checks
- Developed stronger practices and policies in the HRS with a focus on more equitable practices
- Served as the Director overseeing the 21 CSLA grant and program
- Redesigned Administrative Induction Program (AIP) with a focus on CPSELS; supported coaches with coaching seminars focused on equity and adult learning theory
- Recruited coaches for AIP and 21 CSLA
- Oversaw the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program; coordinated the Cal APA program and provided support through office hours and one on one meetings; taught the first class and provided guidance for the remainder of the program to participants; became proficient with Canvas, the online learning system
Principal
JEH/Big Picture Learning School
Cloverdale, CA
07.2021 - 06.2023
- Received a 6 year clear WASC accreditation in May 2023
- Facilitated conversations with staff regarding Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) leading to a Multi-Tiered Support System grounded in restorative practices
- Built a study team representing K-12 to begin the process of exploring and researching an Ethnic Studies course in the high school to meet the new state graduation requirement
- Stepped in as served as the principal of the grades 5 - 8 school while also serving as the high school principal
- Wrote the Community Safety Plan and SPSA which had not been revised in multiple years
- Served on CSEA, Teacher union negotiations team
- Wrote the Kl2 Strong Workforce Program Grant receiving full funding and exemplary state status to build a dual enrollment program with SRJC and increase CTE completers and post secondary certifications
- Supporting JEH/Big Picture teacher with transition of the alternative education school to a Big Picture Learning school
- Provided opportunity for students, led by staff, to not only give input on next year's bell schedule but it was the student voice that brought the vote to an almost unanimous decision to move to block scheduling
- Increased student participation in honors and Advanced Placement courses from the 2021- 22 school year to the 2022 - 23 school year
- Implemented co-teaching in English, math, and science to provide more opportunities and access for students with an IEP
- Decreased student discipline referrals through more restorative practices thus keeping students in school and in the classroom learning
- Served on the Executive Board for Creative Sonoma
- Re-established the homecoming parade that is community oriented
- Attended all parent meetings
- Re-established ELAC
- Maintained a strong visible presence in the town by attending or meeting with Rotary, Cloverdale Museum, Sonoma Library, and working with community members to serve as mentors to students
Director, Teaching and Learning
Santa Rosa City Schools
Santa Rosa, CA
11.2017 - 06.2021
- Created an online school for grades K-6 with a strong SEL and interdisciplinary focus to meet the needs of students during the pandemic; the school continued the pandemic
- Lead professional development for directors, principals, and assistant principals focused on leading with strengths, evaluation protocols, implementation of strategic plans, and instructional leadership through learning walks with frameworks that focus on student agency, culturally relevant pedagogy, and assessment
- Facilitating bi-weekly principal meetings for middle school principals to reimagine middle schools to better serve students, to support professional growth with a focus on data analysis and instructional leadership
- Developed a leadership academy in collaboration with assistant superintendent for Santa Rosa City Schools administrators and upcoming administrators with a focus on strengths, strategic processes, and approaches with a through-line of adaptive and technical change and approaches
- Collaborated with the Student Services department and the Assessment/IT department on several projects including leading the software request process and oversight of, liaison for assistant principals, support for disproportionality finding, lead for co-teaching implementation to significantly reduce the pull-out model, absorbing more oversight of professional development to support FPM
- Facilitated conversations with principals regarding creating a collaborative learning community, the implementation of and developing a culture founded in knowing our impact
- Collaborated with all K- 12 principals and directors on instructional programs including the implementation of a k- 12 diagnostic, Code to the Future in elementary school, CTE courses in middle school, and promoted learning initiatives district-wide in distance learning such as the flipped classroom and blended learning
- Collaborated with the assistant superintendent on new graduation policy aligning courses with a - g criteria to support college and career readiness for all students which included deep data analysis of graduation rates, course data, and opportunity gaps
- Assisted with program implementation of transition of math from the traditional pathway to an integrated pathway and of science to NGSS alignment through more relevant and meaningful lessons and engaging in lesson studies for science teachers to build a deeper understanding of NGSS and learning progressions and facilitating conversations with principals about effective mathematics instruction
- Focused programs to support at-promise students such as implementing a summer bridge program using AVID in math and English; conducted learning sessions during spring break for students, researching program support to provide further tools such as ALEKS or MAP Growth for teachers to provide deeper learning opportunities for students
- Built a teacher candidate pipeline to be more representative of the diverse community through a CTC grant that supports the residency philosophy; grew from one resident to 14 residents in one year
- Building community relationships by developing a stronger connection with Sonoma State University to build a direct path for high school students to SSU as well as diversifying the teaching workforce by meeting with school deans, VP of Admissions and school sites with a focus on recruitment, promotion, retention and parent/guardian communication
- Increased work with the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber includes strengthening a STEM program for freshmen
- Member of the Return to School Executive Committee focused on developing multiple scenarios for returning to school resulting in co-creating a unique virtual K - 12 school called Learning House and pursuing recognition as a magnet school with a learn by doing philosophy
Principal
Fullerton Union High School
Fullerton, CA
07.2013 - 06.2017
- Planned professional development focused on the 12 most highly effective practices to improve student achievement with a focus on Hattie's Visible Learning and working with Elevated Achievement Group thus building common instructional practices among teachers as well as building leadership capacity among teachers to serve as models and mentors to others
- Responsible for and wrote the Single Plan for Student Achievement
- Led professional development for aspiring principals and assistant principals around leading with strengths, evaluation protocols, implementation of strategic plans, and instructional leadership
- Facilitated writing of the District Strategic Arts Plan providing a vision for the next five years of the arts at all schools as well as a coherent structure to meeting the vision
- Supported creation of BEAST that is unique to FUHS to bring together the sciences and arts to create a creature effects program with industry leading partners; this program received a Golden Bell in 2022
- Oversaw the implementation of Chromebooks one to one among students and the training of staff in using technology as a learning tool
- Passing rate on ELA CAASPP test improved 10% in one year from 60% passing to 70% passing and 3% in Math
- Raised a - g completion rate from 35% to 46% in four years through proactive strategies such as having all freshmen pick a pathway and increasing number of courses that are a - g compliant as well as working towards more students taking three years of math
- Facilitated conversations with math department to improve student learning and achievement
- State Indicators for student achievement show FUHS in all blue or green areas indicating positive growth
- Created recognition events for students such as Commitment Week to celebrate senior plans after high school
- Created more partnership opportunities with CSU Fullerton through Upward Bound program, internships, field trips and workshops on campus
- Articulated several programs with Fullerton Community College including the arts, a biomedical pathway and FCC faculty teaching courses at the high school
- Gathered input from community in regards to needs assessment for facilities and priorities for bond money
- Conducted weekly school tours, evening information sessions and other community events to promote the school
Executive Director
Helix Charter High School
La Mesa, CA
09.2010 - 05.2012
- Managed $17 million budget; able to balance a budget with decreased revenues and increased expenditures without furlough days or laying off staff; negotiated a reduction in encroachment costs with GUHSD
- Negotiated both CSEA and HTA contracts in less than two years when the school had been without contracts since 2008
- Hired a consultant to support a whole school renovation project after two buildings were not renovated satisfactorily; the consultant more than recouped our costs by finding value added savings
- Worked with La Mesa Police Department to complete a security audit of school resulting in increased security measures for a safe and secure environment
- Proposed to the Board the need for a strategic plan; was given support to hire a consultant to facilitate the process
- Professional development provided resulting in increase in test scores in math and science and an overall 19 point increase in API in 2011 -2012 school year.
- Implemented APEX for summer school program to retain summer school; allowed more students access to summer school as well as more classes offered while decreasing costs to the school substantially and increasing the passing rate
- In process of building a vertical articulation program with the main feeder middle school with the goal of a common writing rubric, established high school programs in the middle school and middle school students taking classes on the high school campus; collaborated with Math for America on creating an two week Algebra I summer enrichment program
- Researched a cost-effective data system to track student test data as well as create benchmark assessments
- Attended several workshops sponsored by SDCOE to begin preparation for common core standards
- Collaborated with teachers on Helix F.I.R.S.T to pilot a course for freshmen to teach AVID-like skills as well as focus on literacy skills to prepare for common core standards; this program received a Golden Bell in 2022.
- Recreated the 8.5 Academy that presumed certain incoming 8th graders needed five years of high school and transitioned the program to a more intensive support for students who were identified as being in danger of failing the freshmen year based on test scores and feeder school input
- Facilitated an addition to the PE curriculum that included a classroom component that focused on health standards
- Introduced Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) to teachers to assist in best instructional practices for EL students and at-promise students; other professional development included workshops on the common core standards and assessment for learning
- Monthly meetings with Mayor of La Mesa to promote collaboration between the city and the school in an effort to build a stronger tie to the community
- Attended all SDCOE professional network meetings for charter school administrators; presented system of interventions
- Monthly meetings with district authorizer to stay abreast of district concerns
- Partnered with La Mesa City to build a community garden on campus
- Joined the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary to build a stronger relationship with the community as well as support them with their fundraising efforts
- Spoke to many middle schools and community organizations regarding the programs at HCHS
- Working with community college to offer a dual enrollment program
Principal
Temecula Valley High School
Temecula, CA
07.2007 - 09.2010
- Trained a cadre of teachers in the PLC model as an avenue to improve student achievement
- Facilitated conversations with a team of teachers to research pyramids of interventions; team developed a unique model of intervention which resulted in nearly 2000 fewer Fs from first semester 2009 to first semester 2010
- Designed professional development with a specific focus on the essential elements of instruction
- Created a testing day in October where all sophomores were given the PSAT and juniors were given the choice to take ASVAB or the PSAT; data from tests used to inform instruction and guidance counseling
- Instituted an AP Fair and Parent Night to increase understanding of AP offerings and increase student participation
- Utilized Perkins funds to modernize auto technology and culinary arts program; participated in writing 13 grant to create a middle college program with a CTE focus on nursing, culinary arts and green technology for the district
- Raised school API 51 points in two years by focusing on instructional best practices through professional development, working with counselors to ensure upperclassmen in a rigorous program of studies that includes math, science and at least one AP course, by building a collaborative culture focused on the principles of a professional learning community and working with the student body on creating a more student-centered campus
- Designed, recruited for, and implemented the Delta Academy: a school within a school model taking an interdisciplinary program of four teachers working collaboratively with freshmen who demonstrated capability per test scores but did not demonstrate that capability in the classroom; an RCOE Program of Excellence in 2009
- Developed a freshmen transition program that consists of students spending a day at the high school to learn about courses, registration as well as sign up for activities. Students toured the school and attended a pep rally; the freshmen transition program also included a parent night, meet the principal night, and a freshmen orientation day that included lunch with the staff
- Instituted monthly parent breakfasts, back to school night within two weeks of school opening, an academic show case second semester for parents to help their student with the registration process, supported Empty Bowls fundraiser and built stronger relationship with PTSA
- Brought Challenge Day to school and started Be the Change Club to proactively combat bullying, stereotyping and to promote good will and generosity towards others
Director of Professional Development/ Principal
Leadership Public Schools Richmond High School
San Francisco, CA
07.2004 - 10.2006
Assistant Principal / History Teacher grades 7 - 11
Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
01.1991 - 01.2004
Education
Ph.D. - Psychology
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN12-2019
Master of Arts - Teaching
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA06-1999
Bachelor of Arts - History
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA08-1990
Skills
- Policy development
- Negotiation strategies
- Equity practices
- Professional development
- Data analysis
- Performance management
- Community engagement
- Team collaboration
- Leadership development
- Process improvement
- Adaptive thinking
- Change management
- Systems analysis
- Collaborative approach
- Performance evaluations
- Problem-solving abilities
- Group facilitation and presentations
- Administrative management
Certification
- Dare to Lead certified
- Coaching: certified by University of Washington as well as Elena Aguilar Transformational Coaching
- Graduated from the Personnel Academy in 2025 as well as the Superintendent Academy in 2023 facilitated by the Association of California School Administrators
- Adjunct faculty at Sonoma State University as well as the North Coast School of Education
- California Educational Theater Association Administrator of the Year, 2016
Timeline
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Sonoma County Office of Education
06.2023 - 06.2025
Principal
JEH/Big Picture Learning School
07.2021 - 06.2023
Director, Teaching and Learning
Santa Rosa City Schools
11.2017 - 06.2021
Principal
Fullerton Union High School
07.2013 - 06.2017
Executive Director
Helix Charter High School
09.2010 - 05.2012
Principal
Temecula Valley High School
07.2007 - 09.2010
Director of Professional Development/ Principal
Leadership Public Schools Richmond High School
07.2004 - 10.2006
Assistant Principal / History Teacher grades 7 - 11
Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
01.1991 - 01.2004
Ph.D. - Psychology
Capella University
Master of Arts - Teaching
George Mason University
Bachelor of Arts - History
James Madison University
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