Eric Dillie on 24 Years in Education: Leadership Lessons from the Classroom to the Principal's Office

Last June I stood before a class of graduating seniors and gave them two pieces of practical advice: invest in an index fund early, and protect your credit score. Before that, I told them the truth every young adult deserves to hear—life isn't always fair, hard seasons happen to good people, and perfection is an unfair standard to hold yourself against. What matters is taking on the world with open eyes, a strong work ethic, and an open heart.

I'm Eric Dillie, and I have spent 24 years in public education—first as a classroom teacher and coach, and later as a principal, superintendent, and now Executive Director of Summit Public Schools: Tamalpais in Richmond, California. Over those same 24 years, my wife, Kala, and I have built our life and raised our daughter together. Here are five lessons from that journey that have stayed with me.

1. Every Student Needs an Adult Who Truly Sees Them

I grew up in Iowa in a blue-collar, union household where my parents earned their GEDs and taught me early that education opens doors. Because teachers in my hometown paid attention to me, I became a first-generation college graduate at the University of Northern Iowa—where I also walked onto the football team and spent afternoons taking scout-team reps across from future NFL linemen.

Those experiences taught me the same lesson: show up every day, take the hit, and never underestimate what happens when an adult believes in a kid. A couple of years ago, I spent fifteen minutes at lunch talking with a seventh grader about the history of the accordion and how it traveled to Mexico. There was no agenda—just a student excited to share what he knew and an adult who wanted to listen. No system ever replaces a culture where adults are genuinely curious about the kids in front of them.

2. Rigor Is a Form of Respect

After graduating in Iowa, I began teaching in Texas—first teaching middle school history and coaching athletics in Round Rock, and later teaching in the Gifted and Talented program at Coppell Middle School North in the Dallas area (where I also cemented a lifelong loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys). Writing curriculum and training teachers in Coppell taught me that holding high expectations is one of the clearest ways we show students we respect them.

Later, as a campus principal and Director of Instruction for the seven-school Winfree Academy Charter Schools network in Dallas, we paired rigorous academics with adult education and on-campus social services—showing that high expectations work best when a school supports the whole family.

3. School Turnarounds Are Built on Clarity and Trust

In 2013, Kala's career brought our family to Livermore, California, and I became Campus Principal of Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory High School (LVCP). At the time, the school faced compliance challenges, lacked a defined mission, and struggled to serve English learners and students with IEPs.

Together with a dedicated faculty and Livermore families, we defined a clear mission, built a collaborative staff culture, and put real instructional support around every learner. We graduated LVCP's first senior class, produced National Merit Scholarship Finalists, and in 2015 Newsweek ranked LVCP #366 on its list of America's Top High Schools—placing our campus in the top 1% of U.S. public high schools. My job was simply to give great teachers clarity and let them teach.

4. Clear Is Kind—and Leadership Is a Team Sport

Today, as Executive Director of Summit Public Schools: Tamalpais, a 7th–12th grade public charter school in Richmond serving more than 600 students, I focus on shared leadership. Our leadership team is in classrooms daily giving teachers timely, direct feedback, and we work collaboratively across our 55 staff members. In October 2026, the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education approved a five-year charter renewal for Summit Tamalpais through 2032—a milestone earned by the entire school community.

5. Strong Schools Belong to Strong Communities

Living in Livermore since 2013 has reinforced what I learned growing up in Iowa: a school and its town are inseparable. Serving through the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley, the Livermore Valley Craft Beer Foundation, the KEY Academy Board of Directors, and the Contra Costa County Charter Coalition (5Cs) Board keeps me connected to the neighbors and families we serve. Twenty-four years in, the work still comes down to the basics: show up for kids, back your teachers with clarity, and invest in the community you call home.

About the Author: Eric Dillie is an education leader with 24 years of experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and Executive Director of Summit Public Schools: Tamalpais. A native of Iowa and resident of Livermore, California, he serves on the boards of KEY Academy and the Contra Costa County Charter Coalition (5Cs) and is producer and co-host of Back Room Briefings, the #1 podcast for Bay Area politics and sports.

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