John A. Michaelson

John Michaelson -- S.F. Educator Backed Progressive Causes

John Alexander Michaelson, a San Francisco educator who was an innovative principal at several elementary and middle schools in the city, died Christmas Day, 2004, at his home in the Mission District. He was 52 and died from lymphoma, said his brother, Robert Michaelson.

During his nearly three-decade career with the San Francisco Unified School District, Mr. Michaelson was a leading advocate for the naming of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and implemented the much-publicized single-gender academy at Marina Middle School.

His colleagues say he had a singular dedication to the students attending his schools and was a champion of progressive causes in the school district. "We are deeply saddened by John's death. He was a wonderfully committed, hardworking educator whose presence will most surely be missed," said Roqua Montez, a spokesman for the school district.

Mr. Michaelson, who was born in Seattle and moved to the Bay Area with his family at age 10, attended Piner High School in Santa Rosa and began working at San Francisco schools after his graduation from San Francisco State University in 1976. He taught at Bessie Carmichael Elementary School and Martin Luther King Middle School.

In 1992, the same year he graduated from Stanford University with a master's degree in education, he became principal of Miraloma Elementary School. "He put children first. I know that's a slogan right now, but it's something he really did regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or income level," said Sesheta Hanible, a third grade teacher who worked with Mr. Michaelson his first year at Miraloma Elementary.

The principal of Harvey Milk said Mr. Michaelson was instrumental in the 18-year campaign to change the school's name to honor the slain city supervisor. He, along with other district employees, fought against "a very strong group of people who felt that naming an elementary school after a gay man was wrong because you would have to explain to small children what it meant (to be gay). It was ludicrous," said Principal Sande Leigh.

Mr. Michaelson also ushered in the single-gender academy at Marina Middle School while principal there. That program had mixed reviews and ended after the state stopped funding. At that school, he started a program where eighth grade students visited Yosemite National Park for a week of learning. "For some kids that had never seen mountains, never seen waterfalls up close, never accomplished something like hiking to the top of Nevada Falls, it was an incredible experience ... and he worked really hard to make sure that happened," said Judy Giampaoli, assistant principal at the school.

Mr. Michaelson retired from the school district in June, 2004, after working as principal at Luther Burbank Middle School and at district headquarters. He was fluent in Spanish and spent much time at a home he owned in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he worked on a novel.

Mr. Michaelson is survived by his parents John H. and Patricia Michaelson of Seattle; three sisters, Nancy Celms and Barbara Barclay of Bothell, Wash., and Susan Rincon of Lake Stevens, Wash.; and three brothers, Thomas Michaelson and James Michaelson of Sacramento, and Robert Michaelson of Seattle.

A memorial will be held Saturday in the Green Room of the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building at 401 Van Ness Ave.

Tuesday, January 11, 2005 (SF Chronicle)  

Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Staff Writer