Principal's Bio

Principal Bob Amato was born in Redwood City and went to San Mateo schools. He enjoyed sports, band and choir in high school and even studied enough to pass his classes. He graduated from Aragon High School in 1975 and moved on to Sonoma State University, graduating in 1979 with a BA in Psychology. Bob began his work in public schools in 1981 when he took a job as a school custodian and bus driver in Sebastopol, California. He coached teams for the middle school he worked for and was encouraged to get a teaching credential by the school staff. In 1983 Bob received a Multiple Subjects Credential and after working as a substitute for several months, interviewed and was hired to teach PE and Math in Mariposa, California. Three years later he moved to Turlock and took a job as fifth grade teacher for Denair Unified which he held for many years. He also married his wife Joyce and they had their first of two children, daughter Kyah and they moved to Modesto.  During that period of time he became a mentor teacher in technology for the district and earned his clear Administrative Services Credential  and Masters Degree in Education from Chapman University.

In 1999, Bob took a job as Assistant Principal at Dent Elementary in Escalon. He has since served as Principal at Van Allen School and is currently the Principal of Farmington and Collegeville Elementary Schools with the Escalon Unified School District. He enjoys family activities, golf, hiking and travel. He enjoys helping students, parents and staff to succeed and overcome obstacles that get in the way of a great tomorrow. Now in the 28^th year of a career in education, he believes that there is no "can't" when it comes to learning. There is however  "won't" and don't' want to."  It is a privilege to be in a position every day to help students see that with help and support, they "can."  Mr. Amato often says to his students: "when you miss school, you miss out!"