Charles Young, superintendent of Benicia Unified School District, announced Stephen Slater as the new principal of Matthew Turner Elementary School.

Earlier this month, Leslie Beatson— the principal at Matthew Turner since 2012— was announced as the district’s new assistant superintendent of educational services, succeeding Marie Morgan who will be taking the reins as the superintendent of Walnut Creek School District. As Beatson was promoted to her new role, this left a vacancy in Matthew Turner’s highest leadership position, which will be filled by Slater.

Slater received both his teaching credential and undergraduate degree in diversified liberal arts from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. He also received his master’s degree from Concordia University in Irvine.

In the last 23 years, Slater has served as a teacher and administrator in several schools throughout Contra Costa. He began as an elementary school teacher, where he was twice honored as teacher of the year for the Mount Diablo Unified School District. Since then, he has served as a co-administrator at Riverview Middle School in Pittsburg, Wren Avenue Elementary School in Concord and Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Pleasant Hill.

Additionally, Slater has been a major proponent of technology integration in Mount Diablo School District and was a presenter at the district’s STEM and EdTech Symposium in February. He was also the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support coordinator, which aims to establish a support system for all students to achieve, social, emotional and academic success.

Young said in a statement that Slater has received high recommendations from his previous superintendent and principal, which would make him an asset for Benicia Unified.

“We enthusiastically welcome Mr. Stephen Slater as the new principal of Matthew Turner School,” Young said.

Sharing is caring!