Principal changes are being made at 18 schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District for the upcoming school year, with 15 elementary, two intermediate, and one high school under new leadership when classes resume Sept. 6.
Among elementary schools, Angie Baltierra, a former teacher in Whittier City School District, is the new principal of Simmons Elementary School, succeeding Barb Batson who moved to the district administrative offices as director of certificated personnel. The new principal of Skylark Elementary School is Sandi Ishii. Before her new appointment, she served as supervisor of the district’s GATE program.
Valerie Shedd, former principal of Lawrence Elementary School, is assuming the reins at Clinton-Mendenhall Elementary School, and Cesar Loya has been appointed to fill the leadership vacancy at Lawrence School. Loya comes to the GGUSD from Capistrano Unified School District where he served as an assistant principal.
Don Terreri departs Crosby Elementary School for Rosita Elementary School, replacing Melanie Barrera, who moves to Marshall Elementary School as principal. Jennifer Carter, former principal of Marshall School, is the new principal of Patton Elementary School. She succeeds Linda Chrystal, who retired this past June after 36 years of service in the district. Kristine Levenson, a former principal in Rialto Unified School District, is the new principal of Crosby School.
Michelle Askew moves to Enders Elementary School from Carrillo Elementary School, filling the vacancy left by Gloria Spelber, who retired in June after 27 years with the GGUSD. At Carrillo School, the new principal is Kim Kroyer, former principal of Excelsior Elementary School. Sara Mershon, promoted to principal of Excelsior School, was a district teacher on special assignment in the department of K-6 instruction before being named to her new position.
Lorrie Klevos is the new principal of Faylane Elementary School, following Thorsten Hegberg, who moves to Santiago High School as an assistant principal. Klevos was coordinator of the district’s preschool program prior to her new appointment.
At Hill Elementary School, the new principal is Erin Lara, the former assistant principal of Doig Intermediate School. She fills the position vacated after Mike Kennedy was named as the new principal of Doig Intermediate.
Lisa Chavez moves to Riverdale Elementary School as principal from her position at Paine Elementary School. Her successor as principal at Paine School is George Martinez, who previously served as an assistant principal at Rancho Alamitos High School. Bonnie Strand, the former principal of Riverdale School, retired in June after working in the GGUSD for 16 years.
In other leadership changes at the secondary level, Margaret Feliciani begins the 2012-13 school year as principal of McGarvin Intermediate School. She moves to her new assignment after serving in the district office as director of K-12 educational services. She follows Lila Jenkins, who leaves McGarvin Intermediate to assume responsibilities as principal of Santiago High School. Lorena Luna Sanchez, the former principal of Santiago High, was named as the new director of K-12 educational services.
