From administrators to longtime and first-year teachers, 16 staff members are leaving Branham this year.
These include administrators Assistant Principal Tori Waite, in her first year, psychologist Candice Golden, counselor Vince Leeburn, book clerk Susie Fleming and principal’s secretary Melody Jones. Fleming and Leeburn are retiring.
The list of departing teachers consist of Andrew Barlam (English), Chris Chidester (science), Courtney Durrant (P.E.), Damian Fragano (Spanish), Daniel Green (social science), Javier Ibanez (special education), Mia Koh (math), Janeth Quebrado (Spanish), Fitz Vo (science and journalism), Beth Wilson (special education) and 2023 teacher of the year Tobis McLeod. Quebrado, Barlam have been at school for one year.
For AP Physics 1 teacher Chris Chidester, who has been with Branham for 16 years, the reason for his departure is the commute. His family is moving to Concord, which would have meant a four-hour round trip to and from Branham.
He said that his time teaching here would never be forgotten.
“I made many happy memories at Branham,” Chidester said. “It definitely got better over the years I was at Branham. It’s sad to leave on a positive note.”
Spanish 2 and 3 teacher Damian Fragano has been at Branham for seven years and was an assistant soccer coach for five.
He and family have been planning to move to Sacramento because of the high cost of living. His two daughters are 3 and 6 years old.
“My little girl is gonna go to first grade, so we want her to establish relationships in Sacramento instead of here and have the move be better for her transition,” he said.
Fragano said that his favorite part of Branham would always be the close relationships he cultivated with his students, whether that be through filming music videos of Spanish songs or simply waving to each other in the hallways. He will teach at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs.
“The students really had a positive and fun impact on my experience here and made me happy for seven years,” he said. “I’ll be starting from scratch now, but I know little by little, I will start making new relationships and friends.”
