Headshot of Greg John

R. Gregory John

Adjunct Professor

Part-Time Faculty
Socials

Biography

Greg has served for more than three decades in public education. For thirteen years, he taught high school students and for sixteen years he served as an elementary school principal in the Bay Area. He also served in central office positions aimed at supporting site staff in their quest to build schools that are student-centered. He believes that each of us has a right to tell our own stories. His experience in teaching, coaching, and leading has informed his vision for how we can shift course toward a more hopeful future. Greg earned a Masters Degree in English from SF State University and a leadership degree from Cal Sate University Hayward. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from UC Santa Barbara. He has served on the board for Playworks and for several other non-profit organizations. He is also the author of Notes from the Playground, a collection of reflections on the life of a school principal.

Expertise

  • Poetry
  • Writing
  • Education
  • Leadership

Research Areas

  • Education
  • Leadership

Appointments

  • New, adjunct faculty.

Education

  • CSU Eastbay, Administrative Services Credential, 2005
  • San Francisco State, MA in English (Creative Writing) 1994
  • CSU Long Beach, English BA and Teaching Credential, 1986
  • UC Santa Barbara, BA in Music, 1981

Prior Experience

  • Chief of Labor Relations, SFUSD 
  • Executive Director Talent Management (HR) at SFUSD
  • Principal at SFUSD and Berkeley Unified
  • Director of Education at Alameda County Office
  • Director of Education for Stuart Foundation

Selected Publications

  • Notes from the Playground, 2015
  • Teaching with Heart (Intrator and Scribner), 2014
  • Leading from Within (Intrator and Scribner), 2007