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Administration

Administrative Team

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Administrative Team
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Principal and wildcat

Meet Your Administrative Team: 

 

Karen Van Putten, Cara Klackle, Wendy Porter, and Chuck Velschow

Principal

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Principal
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Principal Karen van PuttenKaren van Putten
 
Woodside welcomes new principal, Karen Van Putten. Karen Van Putten comes to the District with 27 years of experience in K-12 education as a teacher, mentor, and principal in schools across the Bay Area. Karen Van Putten’s dedication to equity, social justice, and her creative instructional leadership brings new and exciting opportunities to Woodside High School. 
Van Putten holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration & Supervision from San Jose State University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Sociology and her Secondary Teaching Credential from Hope College in Michigan.
Instructional Vice Principal

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Instructional Vice Principal
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Cara Klackle
 
The Instructional Vice Principal (IVP) oversees the instructional programs of Woodside High School. She develops the Master Schedule, facilitates the hiring of teachers and instructional associates, and works with the Guidance Department in regards to class selection, scheduling, and graduation requirements. The IVP also leads the department chairs and facilitates Department Chair meetings.

Mrs. Cara Klackle began her teaching career in 2002 at Lindhurst High in Marysville, Ca where she served as an SDC teacher, department chair, and Instructional Lead.  Cara first came to Woodside High School in 2011 as a special educator and co-teacher.  She served as SpEd department chair, Compass coordinator, summer school principal, SDMC member and WASC focus group chair.  In 2019, she moved to the district office as instructional coach and TIPS advisor.  Cara earned her Administrative Services credential at CSU East Bay in 2016 and returned to Woodside High School in 2021 to serve as Instructional Vice Principal. 
Administrative Vice Principal

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Administrative Vice Principal
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  Administrative Vice Principal Chuck Velschow
Chuck Velschow
Works with students with last names A-L
Athletics
 
Chuck Velschow works with students with last names A-L; he oversees and enforces disciplinary consequences for all students on his caseload. He works in collaboration with campus security to ensure the safety of all students. Mr. Velschow also supervises: athletics, attendance office, food services, emergency procedures and the health office.

Mr. Chuck Velschow began his full-time teaching career at South San Francisco High School in the fall of 1995, and came to Woodside High School in 2001.  A social studies teacher, he taught in the Business Technology Academy until 2014, where he had brief spells as Program Coordinator and Mentor Coordinator.  In 2014-15 he earned his administrative credential and master's in Educational Leadership from CSU East Bay, coinciding with taking on the role of Athletic Director, AP US History and Leadership teacher at Woodside.  Mr. Velschow also served on the Belmont-Redwood Shores School Board from 2011 to 2017 and coached football for 12 years.

 

Administrative Vice Principal

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Administrative Vice Principal
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Administrative Vice Principal Wendy Porter
Wendy Porter
 
Works with students with last names M-Z
Special Education Services


Wendy Porter is responsible for connecting students with last names M-Z with the support, interventions and disciplinary consequences necessary to become responsible and successful young adults. She oversees the special education program, the Mental Health Counseling Intern Program and support services including the Students Offering Support (SOS) peer programs: Freshman Transition, Conflict Mediation, Kids Learning Empathy and Respect (KLEAR) and Safe School Ambassadors

Ms. Porter has been at Woodside High School since 1988. She taught economics, world studies and psychology for twenty-five years, serving as the social studies department chair from 1998-2014. She completed a four-year stint as Athletic Director prior to becoming an AVP, and coordinated the Shared Decision Making Council and summer school for a number of years. Wendy received an undergraduate degree in economics and a master’s degree in education from Stanford University.
Administration Offices

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Administration Offices
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Principal
Ext: 40010 
 
Instructional Vice Principal
Ext:  40020
 
Administrative Vice Principal, works with students M-Z & Special Education Services
Ext: 40032
 
Administrative Vice Principal, works with students A-L & Athletics
Ext: 40030
 
Span of Control 2021-2022

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Span of Control 2021-2022
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The Span of Control provides an overview of each administrator's duties and responsibilities.