Mr. Rick Petrini | Head of School and Principal

This is Mr. Petrini’s 39th year in education. He taught third and fourth grades for

seventeen years in the Orcutt Union School District at Patterson Road School. He and

his family then moved to Spokane, Washington where he taught second, third, and

fourth grades for sixteen years at Saint George’s School. He was then promoted to

Head of Saint George’s Lower School, where he served as principal for five years. He is

eager to currently serve the community of the Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy as

their Head of School / Principal.

Mr. Petrini has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Loyola Marymount University,

California Teaching Certification through UCSB, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction

through Chapman University, and a Masters in Educational Administration with Principal

Certification through Whitworth University. He has both an active California teaching

credential and an active Washington State teaching certification, and also an active

Washington State Principal certification.

Santa Barbara is Mr. Petrini’s hometown, and he is thrilled to be back on the central

coast, closer to parents and extended family. He has three grown children: Micaela is a

stewardship manager for a land trust non-profit in the shadow of Washington’s Olympic

Mountains; Danielle is a mixed-animal veterinarian at a thriving clinic in southern

Oregon, and Mathew is a diesel mechanic, welder, and all-around farmhand for a large

family-run farm in northeast Washington.

In his spare time, Mr. Petrini enjoys gardening, propagating plants, cooking, camping,

hiking, being on the water, and Bible study. His favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6-7:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with

thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which

surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

(NASB20)