Principal
Dr. Kimberly Clissold
I was born and raised in Hawaii Kai on the island of O‘ahu, where my roots are deeply grounded in a family legacy that values education, service, and resilience. Growing up with dyslexia in a time when learning differences were not well understood, I faced academic challenges early on. But with the relentless support of my mother and the dedication of a few remarkable educators, I found my footing—and my purpose.
I’ve spent the last 28 years in education, working across multiple roles: classroom teacher, student government advisor, dean of students and faculty, assistant principal, vice principal, and principal. Each experience has shaped my leadership philosophy and deepened my commitment to equity, student voice, and creating learning environments where all students are seen, challenged, and supported.
I’m proud to once again serve as Principal of Santa Rosa High School, having previously led the school from 2018 to 2023. Returning to this role feels like coming home to a community I care deeply about. My leadership is rooted in servant leadership, collaborative problem-solving, and a steadfast belief in the transformative power of public education. I see my role as building systems that work for all learners—especially those whose strengths may not be immediately visible on paper.
Throughout my career, I’ve focused on instructional leadership, relationship-building, and fostering a school culture that honors both tradition and innovation. Whether leading curriculum initiatives, supporting aspiring administrators, or mentoring new teachers, I bring energy, transparency, and a student-centered approach to everything I do.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: every student deserves someone who will take a chance on them—just like others once did for me.
Vice Principal
Jill Finnerty
Hello! I am excited to start my second year as an administrator at Santa Rosa High School. I have been an educator for 28 years. I started my career working on the San Francisco Peninsula as an elementary PE teacher, then moved to Sonoma County, where I worked for one year at RVMS and MCHS as a PE teacher and coach. I spent the next 23 years in Cotati, Rohnert Park, teaching PE, English, History, ELD, and Study Skills at Lawrence Jones Middle School and Community Day School. I worked at RVMS as an assistant principal in 2023 - 2024, and last year as an assistant principal here at SRHS.
I grew up in a tiny town an hour north of Sacramento called Sutter. I graduated from Sutter Union High School with about 62 students in my graduating class. I earned my B.A. in Physical Education from Chico State along with my single-subject teaching credential. I completed my preliminary administrative credential through the Sonoma County Office of Education and earned my Master’s degree in Educational Administration through the University of Massachusetts Global. I bring strong skills in PBIS, MTSS, PLC’s, and restorative practices to my position at SRHS. I am dedicated to helping students feel safe at school and ready to achieve academic success.
I have been married for 26 years to my high school sweetheart, and we have two children in college. I enjoy outdoor activities such as running, hiking and backpacking, open water swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
I am proud to be a SRCS employee and excited to be a part of the community at Santa Rosa High School, where the school spirit is unwaveringly the best in Sonoma County!
Vice Principal
Debra La Prath
This is not my first time working with and supporting the SRHS Panthers! I spent a handful of years coaching Badminton and have been serving as a member of the PAC - Panther Athletic Committee. And … just as important - Orange is my favorite color!
I have been in education for 33 years, with nearly my entire career at Santa Rosa Middle School, with the exception of one year co-teaching first grade and K-4 Physical Education. (Which taught me right away I wanted to be in secondary education!) I taught Physical Education for 30 years at SRMS and Leadership for 27 years and have always prided myself in sending thoughtful, civic minded, and hard working student leaders off to our feeder school at SRHS. This is my 3rd year in Administration with my first year serving as a CSI TOSA. In addition I have coached track and field at SRMS for over a decade. One of my proudest accomplishments in the coaching arena was to serve the student athletes at Maria Carrillo High School, coaching girls varsity soccer for 24 years. At MCHS we won 8 NCS section titles and two back to back National titles. I was recently inducted into the MCHS Hall of Fame and wrote and published “Coaching Girls’ Soccer Successfully” , a book based on the core values of running a successful girls’ high school program.
I grew up in San Diego, Ca. where I spent my time playing Softball and Basketball in High School and club Soccer. I love the beach, and can spend hours in the water body surfing and boogie boarding in the ocean. But you can also find me on the river or lake, Kayaking and SUPing (Stand Up Paddleboard). I am an avid distant hiker/walker and just a few years ago walked a portion of the Camino de Santiago in Portugal and Spain.
I cannot imagine a career as satisfying and rewarding as being in education. I believe in empowering students and staff to continually strive to do their best work while providing a safe environment where everyone can be themselves. I want students to feel valued and KNOW that we are there for them. I will always give nothing but my best to the Panther community, and I look forward to contributing to a school that continues to be known as not only the school the city was named after … but that has the BEST SCHOOL SPIRIT in the county!
Vice Principal
Hector Soto
I am honored to serve the Santa Rosa High School community as Vice Principal. My journey as an educator—and as a person—cannot be told without sharing the story of my parents, whose strength and resilience continue to inspire the work I do every day.
My mother is a first-generation Mexican-American and one of 14 children. She was born in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, where she spent her youth caring for siblings and picking cotton. My father came to this country undocumented from a small town in the mountains of rural Michoacán, Mexico. Due to poverty, he left school in the second grade to help support his family, working the land and raising animals.
Both of my parents came to Sonoma County in the late 1950s to work in the apple orchards of Sebastopol. They eventually purchased their first home in Windsor, where my mother still resides after 53 years. My father worked as Head Custodian at Analy and El Molino High Schools for 29 years. While working at Analy, a teacher volunteered to teach him how to read—an act of kindness and belief that had a profound impact. He became a U.S. citizen in 1997 and passed away in 2019.
I grew up in a working-class neighborhood on the west side of Windsor and graduated from Healdsburg High School. As a student, I benefited from programs such as Head Start, Bilingual Education, Migrant Education, and other supports designed for low-income families. I am deeply grateful for those opportunities, which helped shape my belief in the transformative power of education.
I earned my A.A. at Santa Rosa Junior College and transferred to Sonoma State University, where I received a B.A. in Chicano and Latino Studies. I began my teaching career in East Palo Alto as an elementary school teacher while earning my Administrative Credential from San Francisco State University in 2008.
Over the years, I have served as Assistant Principal at two middle schools, a dual-immersion charter school, and most recently, as Principal of Brook Hill Elementary School here in Santa Rosa.
As an educator and leader, I am most passionate about advancing equity, building strong relationships with students, families, and teachers, and fostering a culturally responsive school environment where all students feel seen, heard, and valued. My personal and professional experiences have taught me that education is not just about academic achievement—it’s about community, identity, and opportunity.
Outside of school, my greatest joy is spending time with my wife of 14 years, Nikki, and our three children—Cruz (13), Eva (12), and Maya (9). Being part of the SRHS community is both a privilege and a responsibility I embrace with great pride and purpose.
Vice Principal
Michael Casper
It is such a privilege and honor to serve the students at Santa Rosa Junior and Senior and High School. I look forward to meeting students, families, and staff to start the 2025-26 school year. Go Panthers! I want to share with you my background of 27 years in education.
I started my education career as a junior and senior high school alternative education teacher at the Marin County Office of Education, which I held for seven years. During my seven years as a classroom teacher at the Marin County Office of Education, I taught mostly 7th-12th graders at the Marin Community School, but I also taught at the Marin County Juvenile Hall and Braun Day Treatment.
After earning my administrative credential and Master’s Degree in Education Administration at Sonoma State, I assumed the leadership role as assistant principal at San Marin High School in Novato. I stayed in the assistant principal role for sixteen years, then assumed roles as San Jose Middle School Principal, Novato Unified School District ELOP coordinator, and Principal of St. Vincent de Paul College Prep. While serving as Principal at St. Vincent de Paul College Prep, I also taught a section of American Literature.
I attended Marin Catholic High School, where my passion for athletics helped me better engage in school. I played varsity baseball and football, earning first team all-league honors in football. I earned a Bachelor of Science at Sacramento State, and teaching and CLAD credential at Dominican College in San Rafael. I earned an Administrative Credential and Masters of Arts in Education Leadership at Sonoma State.
I like to be active! I love long distance running, working out, and trying to stay physically and mentally healthy. I work out every morning before I start my day. I love spending time with my family & friends, and watching sports. I’m a huge football, baseball, basketball, softball, and hockey fan.
My wife and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this past July 1. Our favorite activity is going out to eat Mexican food weekly. I have a daughter named Ashley, who played four years of college soccer. Ashley just graduated from college this past Spring, and will be starting law school this fall in St. Paul, Minnesota. My other daughter, Brittany, will be starting her second year at Sacramento State this upcoming year. Brittany is working as a para educator for the Marin County Office of Education during summer break.
I love animals, and am the proud owner of two dogs, Zoe who is 12, and Apollo who is 5 years old. Apollo goes on my runs with me, and I named him after my favorite movie character of all time, Apollo Creed, from the Rocky franchise.
I love pretty much all music genres, but my favorites are pop, alternative rock, hard rock, and heavy metal. In my free time, I love reading, learning, watching YouTube, listening to music, and watching movies & sports. My favorite TV show of this past year is Mobland, and my favorite movies of all time are the Rocky and Creed franchises.
I am so excited to be a part of the Santa Rosa Junior and Senior High School community, go Panthers!
Administrative Staff
