• Alan Siegel
    My name is Alan Siegel and I am rather infamous for my wordi-ness - beware, this bio is no exception!

    I hail originally from New Jersey, but grew up in Pacifica from the age of five. I have one brother, Stuart, and my folks (much to my son’s delight) still live in that original Pacifica house - we visit frequently.

    I attended San Francisco State University during both my under grad days (developmental psychology), and back again quite a few years later for my teaching credential. For the 12 or so years in between, I was a photography buff, dabbling but never quite becoming the professional child photographer I thought I might become. I did, however, work in professional photo labs on both sides of the bay during that time.

    When back at S.F. State aiming towards a career in Social Work, a wonderful professor took me aside and asked what my goals were - and then told me point blank, “Oh, you don’t want to go into Social Work - You want to be an elementary school teacher!” She was right. = )

    Apart from a one year stint as a K/1 teacher in my very early career, I  spent my first 20 years teaching first grade exclusively, all at Walnut Heights - I loved the age (and the challenge!)  This is my third year teaching THIRD grade and, while there's still some challenge in "new-ness", I am finding lots of silver linings that come with the shift to these older children - and it has been a real kick to get to follow-through and continue with some "return students"  who were mine in first not all that long ago!   I carry with me the unusual distinction of having had FOUR sets of triplets over the course of my career, two in long term sub stints prior to WCSD, and two at Walnut Heights.

    My passions include photography (still!), baseball (Giants and Red Sox), Disney (annual trips there since I was five), and computers (Mac all the way). I wear an additional tech-support hat for the staff here at WH, and I created and maintain the WH web site. I take pride in the creation and district extension of “Electronolope”, our Wednesday Envelope replacement and paper-saving effort.

    I am very “project-oriented” and enjoy participation in extracurricular activities, especially those that foster community spirit and/or community support. I have taken active roles in school wide programs including our annual Food Drives, Toy Drives, annual W.H.O. Hikes, and Read Across America Day. I have  been a member of School Site Council, Leadership Team and Strategic Planning.  I have served for a number of years as the site representative for the teacher's union (WCTA) and accepted the position as WCTA Vice President this year.
    My greatest passion and pride, though, are my kids.   Both (David and Haley) attended Walnut Heights for their 6-year elementary school tenure.  David  is currently a JUNIOR at Las Lomas, and  Haley in her second year at DVC.  It seems years ago that we spoke of the day when they'd be on that campus together - I totally get it now, that discussion that happens among parents when they begin to realize how speedy-quick time passes when your kids are in school.   On Haley's behalf, I took on the rather large task of "Parent Advisor" for her high school class (kind of like being a room parent to one-fourth of Las Lomas)   I am sad and proud all at the same time, it was amazing and fun to have them here for their elementary school years. 
     
     
     
Last Modified on August 5, 2019