Albany educators mourn district superintendent’s unexpected death
Educators are mourning the loss of Albany Unified School District Superintendent Frank Wells, who died unexpectedly Monday.
“Dr. Wells brought wit, humor, and a willingness to roll up his sleeves to help wherever he was needed. He will be sorely missed, but his passion serves as an inspiration for us all,” district officials said in a letter to parents Tuesday informing them of his death.
“Dr. Wells held a deep commitment to education that guided his more than 30 years of public service. As an education leader, he was a fierce advocate for all students and didn’t hesitate to make waves in support of students of color,” district officials wrote.
Wells assumed the role of superintendent for Albany schools in July 2019. Previously, he was the executive director of human resources at Gonzales Unified School District in Monterey County. During his career, he received several awards, including Bay Area teacher of the year and administrator of the year.
Wells, originally from San Francisco, grew up in the Hunters Point neighborhood with his four siblings. In high school, Wells thought college was a path to the National Football League before he quit his senior year to work a paper route to help support his family. He later joined the Army and drove tanks. After leaving the military, he went back to school and decided to become a teacher.
At 36, he became principal of Los Medanos Elementary School in Pittsburg, and under his leadership the school made greater strides in standardized testing than any other school in the Bay Area, the Chronicle reported at the time.
Throughout his more than three-decade career, Wells served as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, board member and board president.
“We want to send our deepest condolences to his family during this extremely difficult time and the AUSD community,” Albany Mayor John Anthony Miki said in a statement Tuesday. “Dr. Wells was a dedicated and well-respected leader in education. His equity and dataguided approach to ensure every student received a quality education will leave a lasting legacy in our city.”