District names new principal at closely watched S.F. school

San Francisco school officials wasted no time in naming a new principal for Willie L. Brown Jr.

Bill Kappenhagen, the current principal at Phillip and Sala Burton High School in San Francisco, will start at the new Bayview middle school in mid-October, district officials said Friday.

“I asked Mr. Kappenhagen to lead Willie Brown because of his depth of experience and incredible track record in building and maintaining a positive school climate, growing a school’s academic and enrichment programs, and rallying the whole community around ensuring great outcomes for students,” said Superintendent Richard Carranza in a letter to parents.

A teacher left, a software program for creating individual learning plans was shelved over privacy concerns, and some construction was still in progress, parents and officials said.

According to the district, the leadership turmoil has not driven an exodus of families.

Kappenhagen, who starts Oct. 19, said he is excited about the new opportunity and confident the students, teachers and families will rebound from the rocky start.