Article: Journey to Responsibility

Eric Prater: Superintendent of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District

Journey to Responsibility

“I knew I was breaking my father’s heart when I told him I was leaving the family business to pursue a career in education. It wasn’t easy for him, but he embraced the struggle I was experiencing and supported me.”

The best stories often include unexpected twists and turns resulting from the protagonist’s inner conflicts.  In 1989, with a degree in economics from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Eric Prater went to work for his father’s business, managing the investment branch of the company. But something was missing in his life and he knew it.  A conflict grew between loyalty to his family and his desire to help others, particularly children.

Self-described as a “people person,” Eric volunteered at a local elementary school. He remembered attending YMCA camp in Michigan, where his family lived until he was in 7^th grade, and the impact a camp counselor had on him. “His name was Steve, and he had the ability to make each kid feel special. He brought out the best in me. He was positive, team oriented and I wanted to bring those qualities to my work.”  By the spring of 1991 Eric knew he had to make a career change, and the difficult conversation with his father followed.

Eric’s father William, an environmental scientist who worked on a project to clean up the Great Lakes, started a research firm in Ann Arbor. Eventually the company expanded and went public, and the family moved to Danville, California. Analytical Science Associates was involved in projects like investigating ground water pollution in Silicon Valley. Eric’s mother Linda, a math major in college, was ASA’s accountant, making it truly a family affair.  

A three sport athlete, Eric attended Monte Vista High School in San Ramon Valley, where he also played trumpet in the marching band. He had an opportunity to walk on as a basketball player at St. Mary’s but chose to focus on academics.

Following his decision to leave ASA, Eric taught English in Spain for a summer, an experience he calls “transformational.” He returned to St. Mary’s to participate in an accelerated one year program to earn a multiple subject credential. At a career fair he was offered a job teaching 5^th grade in Byron, California.

As well as teaching his 5th grade class, Eric also taught algebra and coached basketball, softball, and flag football at the 5-8 middle school. Fully acknowledging “not knowing what I didn’t know,” one day Eric went to a local elementary school to use the die cut machine to make decorations for his classroom. A first grade teacher walked into the teacher’s work room, noticed he was having problems, and pointed out that he was putting the paper in the wrong slot. It was his first meeting with his future wife, Sherri.

When the principal of his school was diagnosed with cancer in 1996, Eric was asked to fill in for a month or two as a “teacher on special assignment.” Before the end of the year the staff and superintendent asked him to stay in the position permanently. He said yes and was on the road to his career as an educational leader. He completed his administrative credential and master’s degree, got married, and in 1999 moved to Tracy to be vice-principal of a large middle school with abundant academic and social problems.

In 2000 a call from the Brentwood Unified School District led to Eric becoming principal of Edna Hill Middle School. His challenge was to convert it from 5-6 to 6-8 and design a curriculum for a diverse school with a large economically disadvantaged student population. He was so successful that in 2006 Edna Hill was named a national model middle school.

By 2007 Eric had three children and had finished his Doctorate in Education.  He was contacted by an educational consultant and encouraged to apply for the superintendent position in Byron, his old school district. He was hired and remained in Byron until 2010, when what he described as an “Eric my boy, I have the perfect job for you,” call came from a consultant hired by San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) to search for a new district leader.  After a lengthy hiring process, the Board chose Eric to lead the district. The Prater family moved to San Luis Obispo, Eric is now in his second year as superintendent, and his family has made the adjustment to its new environment.

Sherri Prater is a reading specialist who for ten years has worked for the Rio Valley Independent Home School Charter. Their three sons, Thomas, Andrew and Matthew are 11, 9 and 4.  Thomas, in5^th grade at Los Ranchos Elementary, participates in Junior Life Guards and is a voracious reader.  Andrew, also at Los Ranchos, is in 3^rd grade and enjoys 4H and flag football.  Matthew attends the United Methodist Church preschool and loves hanging out with his brothers.

Eric told me that it is a constant struggle to balance family and work responsibilities. “I have to be super disciplined to be ‘all in’ in both capacities. I have to remain focused so that time doesn’t get away from me.”  Sherri and he make sure they have family dinners at least two to three times on weekdays and get out for hikes and other family activities on the weekend.  Most mornings Eric, who holds a 3^rd degree black belt in karate, is up at five and in the garage to stretch, run on the treadmill, and do some light weight lifting.

Eric cited A. J. Cronin’s The Keys of the Kingdom as his favorite novel, and missionary priest Father Francis Chisholm, its central character, as an early inspiration. Chisholm perseveres through much hardship in the Chinese province where he is assigned.  Despite many humbling experiences, he never loses his dignity or his genuine care for others.

“From Chisholm and others I learned the importance of trusting people, beginning with the end in mind, gathering together a group of people with a similar level of care and belief, and taking risks in order to succeed. I hope that what I’m doing is robust and earnest enough that people will want to follow.” Eric believes that San Luis Coastal has an advantage because it has traditionally been run well and experienced success, but he believes it can function at a higher level.

            Following Eric’s guidance and vision, in 2011 the SLCUSD Board of Trustees approved ten initiatives to advance education for all students in the district. In our conversation, Prater pointed out that thirty-seven percent of the students in the district meet federal guidelines as economically disadvantaged, a number that would surprise many.  He is currently most proud of implementing the initiative to open pre-schools at five district elementary schools where there are high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students.

            All of the initiatives are designed to “pull up the blinds, take a close look at what’s happening and get on board to reflect the reality of today’s world.” Coupled with good working conditions and fair compensation, as demonstrated through recently negotiated raises for all district employees, Eric is confident that San Luis Coastal Unified can be a model school district, one that continuously strives to meet the needs of all students.  Superintendent Eric Prater is “all in” in pursuit of that goal.