As avid outdoors people, Sati and Melody Shah could hardly have found a better area than Siskiyou County, CA for their favorite hobbies, including backcountry snowboarding, river rafting and long-distance backpacking. The couple “fell in love with the area,” so when Sati saw an opening for Mount Shasta High School (MSHS) principal, he decided to apply. “I thought it would be a long shot, coming from the outside,” he says. To his surprise, Sati received the job offer, and the couple moved to McCloud in 2017.
Sati’s childhood desire to be a scientist led him to study genetics at the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating, Sati spent four years in genetics research. He realized he missed “engaging in solving day-to-day human issues,” prompting him to return to school for a science teaching credential and a master’s degree in education. Sati’s parents, educators themselves, encouraged their son’s new career. Teaching proved the perfect way for Sati to combine his passion for science with his passion for people.
Before moving to McCloud, Sati taught science for more than 11 years and served as principal for two years in Piedmont, CA. In Sati’s experience, “the most important job of a principal is to bring the school community together.” He spent his first year as MSHS principal listening to students, parents and teachers. He realized MSHS needed more avenues for parent involvement and established monthly forums for parents to receive school updates, give feedback and learn from teachers how to help their kids succeed academically. “High school is an interesting time for kids, who are just on the verge of adulthood, wanting their freedom while also needing a lot of guidance,” says Sati. “But it’s also an interesting time for parents, who are transitioning from being full-time caretakers to learning how to let go and guide their kids on the paths the kids choose.”
Sati sees helping kids choose and pursue their paths as the main goal of schools as well as parents. Toward that goal, he has initiated a monthly student senate at Mount Shasta High School, an open conversation among representatives from each second-period class. Sati says the students always bring interesting topics to the table and the senate gives them a voice in what matters to them. “Strong relationships are the basis of teaching,” says Sati. “If you’re in partnership with kids, you can teach so much more.”
Sati values partnership in all areas of life. “We are all flawed human beings,” he says. “If we work together, rely on each other’s strengths, and find people who share common interests and passion for doing good, we will do good.”
Sati’s marriage to Melody, the art, design and ceramics teacher at MSHS, serves as a prime example of partnering to bring out strengths. “Melody is my rock and my North Star,” Sati says. “When I’m not sure, she gives me confidence, or if things are going sideways, she’s not afraid to say so. She’s my best friend.” Together, Sati and Melody decided to move to McCloud, and then to move to Mt. Shasta to better serve their students. Ken Lovingood, the Shahs’ neighbor in McCloud, recalls the couple coming to help him move his woodpile on a cold winter night. “They’re always willing to help, or just sit down and talk,” says Ken. “I know Sati is the kind of principal the high school needs because he listens first and then comes up with ideas.” Julie Vondrak, Sati’s former neighbor in McCloud, says, “It’s so inspirational to have this Bay Area guy come up to this little school. He is so caring and nurturing.”
Indeed, Sati’s practice of listening to others leaves a significant impression on all around him. Lula Campbell, a longtime Mt. Shasta community member and the mother of three Mount Shasta High School graduates, has worked as the library technician at MSHS for 12 years. Lula describes Sati as “really positive and engaging with the students but also with the staff. He always welcomes everyone and goes out of his way to help anybody.” Lula concludes with words that echo consensus: “Sati is one of the best things that ever happened to Mount Shasta High School.”
The mission of our be the change column is to feature community members from the north state who are actively making a difference in community life. If you would like to nominate someone who is making a difference, please write to pn@northstateparent.com.
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Jenna, thank you for writing about Sati Shaw. He is a terrific principal who has made a positive impact on MSHS. Our Mount Shasta students, teachers, parents and community are lucky to have him.