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Two principals — Janet Terranova and Matt Hermann — will take over new positions in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District in the fall.
The school board announced Wednesday that Terranova, who has been principal at Venture Independent Study school in San Ramon, will be the new principal at Monte Vista High School in Danville. Hermann, whose is principal at Montair Elementary, will succeed her at Venture.
Terranova began as a teacher in the district in 1987, and was president of the San Ramon Valley Education Association for four years before becoming an assistant principal at California High School in San Ramon.
She’s been in education for more than 25 years.
“Monte Vista has an incredible history, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to build on its amazing success story,” Terranova said.
She holds teaching credentials and a masters degree from the University of San Diego, as well as administrative credentials from California State University East Bay.
Hermann took over as principal of Montair Elementary School in Alamo in 2000. He’s been in education for 27 years, spending time as an English teacher, administrative intern and teacher on special assignment in the district.
He said he likes what Venture, which delivers the curriculum through independent or home study, represents.
“It fills a unique need in our community with an extremely dedicated and thoughtful group of staff,” Hermann said. “These are the same things that I have appreciated about Montair.”
The two will move into their new positions in July. The School District has not announced who will succeed Herman at Montair.
Community Briefs: Tango and Jazz at City Center | Alamo and Danville road closuresApril 3, 2026 9:31 am
Dear Emily,
Matt Herman will be great in the creative, innovative environment of Venture.
The issue for Janet will be her neighborhood and the issues MVHS, quite sadly known as Mystic Vomit High School, will have with Alamo neighborhoods based on exceptional actions without community consideration.
There is a greater story here,
Ralph without ROFL
Mystic Vomit High School? This coming from someone named Ralph (another word for vomit)? Who is Emily? And, what is this greater story you are eluding too?
For Ms. Emily West, Editor, The Danville Express
Dear Emily,
Let us tell the story to date so your readers can understand the community challenge that Janet faces as MVHS Principal. Quite simply, MVHS neighbors have suffered from the presence of MVHS students and their cars in surrounding neighborhoods. SRVUSD, MVHS administration and MVHS parents provided no consideration for those neighborhoods and saw no reason to be a “good neighbor.”
SRVUSD, the county and town of Danville determined a unilateral plan to add to the incursion into the neighborhoods by building a parking lot in Alamo across from MVHS. Now, to add to the incursion, there is planned construction of a carport to cover the parking lot and provide a base for old technology solar panels.
No matter how the MVHS is labeled, Alamo region neighborhoods recognize that MVHS has not been a good neighbor. Many MVHS parents circulated commentary that MVHS was there first as justification for the lack of good neighbor consideration.
So, Janet has two jobs. First, she must take command of the school and then make sure it somehow becomes a respected neighbor in the Alamo region. And that, Emily, will be your story going forward.
Ralph without ROFL
Ralph: I, like all the other readers, are tired of reading Ralph’s non-stop blogs, where he(and only he) thinks he is funny and clever, but fails miserably. This was the first blog I recall in which he was actually not trying to be funny, but actually his comments are funny in that he is so wrong. Monte Vista High was there long before he lived in the neighborhood, and if you buy a house near a high school, you need to expect there will be students and some traffic before and after school. Parking was a huge problem, and the school did the best they could, to build the parking lot. Ralph is like someone buying a house near an airport and then complaining about noise from the planes.
ROLF WRONG
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SCHOOLS WHO HAVE PRINCIPALS RETIRING? PLEASE POST THOSE NAMES AS SOON AS YOU CAN. THANK YOU.
Seems to me the ability to “walk to schools” increases value…at least that is what my realtor tells me. Ralph is off base. The Becky Smith thing is amazing though….one of my kids was in student leadership during the time she appropriated the class funds for her golf cart and office furnishings during my child’s Senior year. Unmitigated gall….and to think she is still on the payroll doing vaguely described tasks is a scandal all into itself.
Matt Herman. Loser
Stating that an elementary school principal is a “loser” really does not add to the discussion forum. I found that Matt Hermann was a wonderful principal at Montair Elementary, and had wished that he remained longer so that other students could benefit from his leadership and great role-model. My son graduated Montair a few years back, nothing but great things to say about the gentleman.
However, Becky Smith on the otherhand…did you know that although she lost her principalship at MVHS, she is still President of CIF-NCS…amazing!
Matt Herman is a loser. Thought we all get a little free speech after all the hope and change. He is in a good place at Venture. He can identify with the under achievers.
Becky/Dave: Free speech. Please make your point, how can you be so unhappy with Matt Hermann, a simply outstanding elementary school principal (K-5) with phenomenal results (computer lab, library, gardening, PE, music, instrumental band, art, science class, 5th grade outdoor ed and fantastic 5th grade school play productions, school/community fall festival carnival, etc.).
Furthermore, I believe students and parents of Venture High School would take exception to your comment regarding their school, as you seem to be confusing Venture High School with Del Amigo High School. In fact the previous Venture High School principal is now assigned to Monte Vista High School, a rather immense community responsibility.
Speak your peace with some foundation.
Matt Hermann is incredible!!! We have been so fortunate to have him at Montair and I know that he will be missed by students and parents. Few teachers and/or administrators have their hearts into their work the way that Matt does. I have never seen a principal who was so connected with all of the students, staff and families at school. The emphasis that Matt places on interpersonal skills, kindness and respect (student to student) are priceless. These will be tough shoes to fill for the next principal.
As far as Becky Smith is concerned. Good reddens. She was an over paid slug. Nobody liked her and it’s just another clear case of a school district shifting a teacher that can’t teach to somewhere where they can look useful for their pay. My child’s four years at MV where not made any better because of Becky thats for sure. As far as Venture is concerned. The reader who claims they cater to under achievers obviously has no clue of the actual school atmosphere that goes on in that building. In a whole the type of students that attend Venture are in the most part much more mature than the kids attending the other usual high schools as these student must take the responsibility if their classes and homework on their own just like college which really prepares them for their futures. My child attended Venture for several classes over the course of two years and this was invaluable to her future. Monte Vista has it’s share of problems but no more than San Ramon High school does. I know kids from both schools and kids are kids. Drugs, drinking all at both schools it lies on the parents to be sure you try to keep your kids in line.
Kathy Crosthwait will be your new principal from aug-2010 to Montair. She was the principal of Twin Creeks elementary for last 5 yrs.
Good Luck Montair!!
I find your post confusing Anonymous? Kathy is a fine principal. What are your reasons for your post?
To Ralph, and why can’t MV have a parking lot; before it was just an unused riding arena.