Saranya Bahlert is excited to return to Grant Elementary School this year as principal. She served as the interim principal at Grant for school year 22-23. She is looking forward to collaborating and working with staff, families, students and community partners this Fall. This is Saranya’s 12th year as an educator. She spent the first seven years of her career as a classroom teacher in Florida, Oregon and Massachusetts and three years as a behavioral coach and instructional coach in San Francisco Unified in the Mission and SOMA neighborhoods. Saranya also served as Petaluma City Schools’ Elementary Summer School Principal in 2022. 

Saranya attended University of Central Florida for her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Columbia University’s Teachers College for her masters degree in Psychology in Education. Saranya believes in educating and nurturing the whole child with an emphasis on supporting students’ social and emotional needs. Saranya is also deeply committed to equity and breaking down barriers for our most marginalized students and bridging the opportunity gap. On a personal note, Saranya and her husband moved to Petaluma from San Francisco and are enjoying all that Sonoma County has to offer. They are looking forward to planting roots and building community here in Petaluma. When she is not busy working, Saranya enjoys traveling, reading, practicing yoga and spending time with her family and friends.