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Graham Middle School Principal Sebastian Benavidez is set to resign at the end of this month, after taking a leave of absence that began in mid-November.
Graham staff and families were informed of Benavidez’s departure in a Nov. 20 email from Mountain View Whisman School District Superintendent Jeff Baier, which cited “personal circumstances” as the reason Benavidez would be taking an immediate leave of absence.
Benavidez’s last day on campus was Nov. 17, district spokesperson Shelly Hausman told the Voice. She declined to provide more information on the reason for his departure, noting “the confidentiality required in personnel matters.”
Since Benavidez left, Geoff Chang, a former Mountain View Whisman principal and the district’s current director of federal, state and strategic programs, has taken on the role of interim principal.
“I know this is hard news to hear, and the timing is far from ideal,” Baier wrote in his email to families. “Even with our best efforts to plan for continuity, there are times when individuals must make personal decisions mid-year. During his time with us, Mr. Benavidez worked hard to bring the school community together, and we are grateful for his contributions.”
Before coming to Graham at the start of last school year, Benavidez was the principal of Greene Middle School in Palo Alto. The district hired him in 2024 to replace Heidi Galassi, who had served as Graham’s principal for three years.
In the last several years, Graham has seen substantial administrative turnover. Since 2018, the middle school has gone through five different principals, including Benavidez.
The district plans to start the hiring process for a new principal in the spring, advertising publicly for both internal and external candidates, Hausman said.
Chang is expected to serve as the interim principal through the remainder of this school year, according to Baier’s notice. The superintendent expressed gratitude to Chang for supporting Graham during the transition, highlighting his “strong commitment to students and families.”
While Chang serves as interim principal, his duties as director of federal, state and strategic programs are being divided among staff in the district’s educational services department, Hausman said.
For this story, the Voice was unable to contact Benavidez, who no longer has access to his district email account.
