IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker has announced a new principal for Westpark Elementary School.

Deanna Rutter, who is currently vice principal at an elementary school in the Anaheim City School District, will succeed Principal Ann Marie Simmons, starting July 1.

Walker on Friday touted Rutter’s credentials, saying she is well-versed in curriculum, instruction and the new Common Core instructional standards.

“She is also a leader in technology who has experience with numerous school programs, including Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Response to Instruction (RTI) and special education,” the superintendent said.

Rutter’s career in education began in 2004 at Key Elementary School in Anaheim, where she taught fifth- and sixth-grade Gifted and Talented Education, as well as a regular fifth-grade class. From 2008 through 2010, she served as a Teacher on Special Assignment, and, after teaching third-grade GATE at Edison Elementary for a year, she was named vice principal of Juarez and Guinn elementary schools in 2011. Earlier this year, she was named vice principal of Anaheim’s Ponderosa Elementary School.

A resident of Irvine with her husband, Neal, and their two daughters, Rutter has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCI and a master’s degree in teaching with a specialization in reading from National University, along with teaching and administrative credentials.

Woodbridge High Vocal Music Director Rob Blaney has been named a quarterfinalist for the prestigious Music Educator Award presented annually by The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation.

More than 7,000 nominations were submitted for the national honor, which was established to spotlight K-12 teachers and college instructors who have made significant contributions to music education while helping to preserve its place in our schools. The 222 candidates who were announced as quarterfinalists this week are from 208 cities, fanned out across 41 states.

“This is an incredible honor, and I am blessed to be a part of a community that places such a high value on music education,” Blaney told the NewsFlash. “I love the diversity of our music program at Woodbridge and am grateful for our administration and parents, who have allowed me to create a vocal music program that provides students with opportunities to create, discover, and, as cliché as it sounds, find their voice.”

“The students and faculty that I collaborate with each day are simply the best,” he said, “and they inspire me to be the best that I can be.”

According to the official news release, semifinalists will be announced in September, and the field will later be narrowed to 10 finalists. One of them will pick up The Music Educator Award and a $10,000 honorarium in L.A., but that’s not all; he or she will also get to attend the 2015 Grammy Awards.

The other nine finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists are set to receive matching grants. All grants and honorariums are made possible by Converse, Disney Performing Arts, the Ford Motor Company Fund and Journeys.

IUSD has announced a new addition to its Special Education team.

Melanie Hertig, who currently serves as director of Special Education in the Temecula Valley Unified School District, has been selected to take on a similar role in Irvine, where she’ll work alongside Director Erica Hawkes. Her start date is July 1.

“Melanie will bring a breadth and depth of experience not only as a special education director in a growing district, but also as a former program specialist and general education teacher,” Superintendent Terry Walker said. “In each role, she has proven herself as a highly collaborative leader dedicated to meeting the needs of each student.”

Walker noted that IUSD’s Special Education department is expected to serve as many as 1,000 additional students in the coming years, assuming a growth rate congruent with the rest of the district. As such, Executive Director Mark Miller has been collaborating with a number of groups to assess the department’s current organizational structure with the goal of providing an optimal level of support for students.

Hertig will help ensure IUSD keeps pace with anticipated growth and complex operational needs.

She began her career as an elementary teacher in the Pomona Unified School District in 1996, and three years later she joined the Temecula district as a middle school teacher. She became a school psychologist in 2001, and in 2006 she was named a program specialist.

In 2011, Hertig was named TVUSD’s assistant director of Special Education, and in 2013 she was promoted to Director of Special Education, as well as Director of the local Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

Along with her teaching and administrative credentials, she has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education/pupil personnel services from Azusa Pacifica University.

IUSD has announced two new principals for the 2014-15 school year.

Luis Torres, currently the assistant principal at Venado Middle School, has been promoted to principal at Venado, and Jerry Vlasic, formerly the principal of Kaiser Elementary School in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, will lead the K-8 Vista Verde School.

Both will begin their new assignments on July 1.

Torres, pictured to the right, began his career in education in 1992 as a social science teacher at Marco Forster Middle School in the Capistrano Unified School District, and in 2005 he became a school psychologist intern with Capo. He joined IUSD a year later, and from 2006 through 2011 he distinguished himself as the school psychologist at Venado and South Lake middle schools. Torres became a lead school psychologist for the district in 2010, and in 2011 he was named assistant principal of Venado.

“Not only is he knowledgeable of the students, staff and school community, he has extensive experience at the middle school level, where he’s contributed to positive school cultures as a teacher, school psychologist and administrator,” Superintendent Terry Walker said Friday.

Along with credentials in teaching, administration and school psychology, Torres has a master’s degree in education from Cal State San Bernardino and a bachelor’s degree in history from UCI.

Vlasic, a resident of San Clemente, began his career in education in 1988 at William Fegely Middle School in Portage, Ind., where he worked as an English and social studies teacher. In 1991, he joined the San Marcos Unified School District, where he would spend the next 12 years. At San Marcos Middle School, he was an English teacher, computer elective teacher and, eventually, assistant principal; at Discovery Elementary School, Vlasic served as assistant principal before being promoted to principal.

In 2003, his career path led to the Capistrano Unified School District, where he was principal of Las Flores and Moulton elementary schools for six years. In 2009, Vlasic joined the Newport-Mesa district as principal of Kaiser.

“He is a highly respected educational leader with experience at the elementary and middle school levels,” Superintendent Walker said, “and he is deeply committed to the long-term success of Vista Verde.”

Along with teaching and administrative credentials, Vlasic has a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Ball State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in English and teaching with a minor in sociology from Indiana University.

We proudly present Cypress Village Elementary School’s first students and staff.

On Tuesday, Sept. 2, the school’s inaugural class gathered on the blacktop for the above aerial photo, which will one day hold historical significance. Principal Susan Kemp tells us a company called Day2Day Printing donated custom school shirts for the occasion.

Cypress Village is one of two brand-new IUSD schools, and you can check out a video tour of its campus here. Meanwhile, Portola Springs Elementary is operating at an interim site for a year while its permanent facility is under construction.

Over the summer, we saw a number of ALS ice bucket challenges featuring celebrities, politicians and regular folks. But we hadn’t seen one quite like this.

Dan Grubb, a sixth-grade teacher at IUSD’s Alderwood Elementary School, recently took part in the viral fundraiser, employing the help of longtime friend Edward J. McNeill, as well as a little ingenuity.

McNeill is a 35-year survivor of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS. He’s also the author of several novels.

“Edward is so inspiring,” says Grubb. “When I think things in my life are tough, it helps to change my perspective to all that Edward has overcome. This man has written three novels using one finger on a keyboard. Edward feels that it is his drive to write that keeps him going year after year.”

Even though McNeill’s physical limitations prevent him from hoisting a bucket of ice water, Grubb wanted him to do the honors. So the Alderwood teacher constructed a classic Rube Goldberg machine using household items, including parts from his garage door opener.

In the video, Grubb takes a seat under a bucket. Nearby, McNeill nudges a tennis ball down a slope and into a roll of duct tape, which taps a row of dominoes, which sets off a rat trap, which … well, you should see it for yourself.

The ALS ice bucket challenge has been a fundraising juggernaut this summer due in large part to its viral nature. Specifically, each participant calls on friends and colleagues to donate or perform the stunt — and most do both.

Before being doused, Grubb challenged Alderwood Principal Kara Rydman, IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker and Mark Sontag, IUSD’s director of math, science and career technical education. He also issued a parting challenge to his students — past, present and future.

“More research is needed to end ALS,” he said. “What difference can you make? Be a difference-maker.”

Tinh Tran was looking to integrate more hands-on science, math and technology activities into his classroom lessons, with the ultimate goal of sparking an interest in STEM career paths.

So when the University High science teacher heard about an ambitious program that would enable high schoolers to conduct space experiments, using data from real satellites, he was interested to say the least.

“Mind-blowing” is how Tran describes the technology offered by an education company called Ardusat, which has launched softball-sized satellites called CubeSats into low orbit. (One is pictured to the right.) Each is equipped with sensors that will allow Earthbound students to track temperatures, magnetic fields, UV levels and luminosity using classroom kits with microcontrollers.

Thanks to grant funding secured through the Irvine Public Schools Foundation’s Innovative Teaching Awards Program, the ninth-graders enrolled in Tran’s Earth science systems course will be among the first to pilot the new Ardusat system. And that’s drawn interest from the U.S. News & World Report, which recently interviewed the Uni educator for this story about CubeSats and the future of STEM instruction.

It’s an interesting read even without the IUSD connection. Meanwhile, Tran told us that the mini-satellites will have broad applications at Uni, allowing his students to analyze weather patterns, measure solar flares, monitor the greenhouse effect and much, much more.

“There’s a really steep learning curve for anyone jumping into this,” he said. “One of my goals this year is to integrate STEM (project-based learning) activities into my classroom to encourage more kids to think about STEM fields as a career path. This fits the bill nicely.”

As for his inclusion in the U.S. News article, he said he was happy to weigh in on a subject that’s becoming more critical by the day.

“Whenever there is a chance to promote STEM awareness, I’m in.”

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has released its annual list of semifinalists in the running for National Merit awards, and 110 of them are from right here in IUSD.

These Irvine scholars are in select company. About 16,000 students have earned the prestigious distinction nationwide, representing less than 1 percent of all high school seniors. The press release is here.

So what does it take to become a National Merit semifinalist? Well, for starters, you have to do really, really well on the Preliminary SAT.

About 1.4 million juniors from more than 22,000 high schools took the PSAT during the last school year, and those that aced the exam earned an opportunity to pursue roughly 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth some $33 million. The scholarships include corporate-sponsored awards, college-sponsored awards and “National Merit $2500 Scholarships,” of which 2,500 are up for grabs.

To make it to the next round, our local semifinalists must submit detailed applications and fulfill a number of additional requirements, like earning outstanding marks throughout high school, securing the recommendation of a school official and producing a high score on the SAT.

We’re told about 90 percent of all semifinalists will become finalists, and more than half of the latter group will become Merit Scholars — and earn the college funding that comes with that title.

Past National Merit Scholars include former Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, former Indiana Governor Mitchell Daniels, former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Elena Kagan, an associate justice on the Supreme Court.

Perhaps there’s a future Supreme Court justice or labor secretary somewhere in IUSD.

A little more than 15 months after breaking ground on Cypress Village Elementary School, IUSD officials were at it again on Thursday, ceremoniously kicking off construction of the new Portola Springs Elementary campus.

This time around, the celebration included dozens of children, many wearing red and black Portola Springs T-shirts. It was a genuine display of school spirit, attributable to the fact that Portola Springs has already opened and is serving an inaugural class of 240 enthusiastic students at an interim site just a few miles away.

Against a backdrop of dirt and earth-moving equipment, Principal Heather Phillips welcomed many of those students — along with parents, teachers and staff members — and delivered the day’s opening remarks before turning the mic over to IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker, who in turn introduced Board of Education President Sharon Wallin. Then it was the students’ turn to take the stage, dutifully singing “America the Beautiful” under the direction of their teachers.

Other local dignitaries were on hand, including Board of Education members Paul Bokota, Lauren Brooks and Ira Glasky; Irvine Mayor Steven Choi and City Councilwoman Christina Shea; Irvine Company Senior Vice President Mike LeBlanc and Vice President of Community Affairs Robin Leftwich; and IUSD assistant superintendents John Fogarty, Eamonn O’Donovan and Cassie Parham.

At a cost of about $33 million, the new Portola Springs campus is on track to open in August 2015 at the address of 12100 Portola Springs in Irvine. It took a little imagination to envision the completed school near the intersection of Portola Parkway and Portola Springs on Thursday, but its layout will mirror IUSD’s other new elementary school, Cypress Village, which opened its doors on Sept. 2.

Principal Phillips told the gathered crowd that Portola Springs Elementary will embrace Irvine Unified’s traditions while establishing many of its own.

“We gather today to celebrate not just the groundbreaking for a new school, but the beginning of a new chapter in the story of IUSD,” she said.

Superintendent Walker followed, introducing the board members, district staff, city leaders and Irvine Company executives in attendance and offering praise for those who made the project possible. He also noted that the presence of Portola Springs students added a new level of energy to this type of ceremony.

“What strikes me as very uniquely great and wonderful about this event is that you’re here,” Walker said. “You’re going to be here from the beginning to see this grow, and I agree with (Principal Phillips) that there isn’t anything more exciting than to watch something that’s going to be so profoundly important in the lives of our community, our students and our families.”

Board President Wallin said Portola Springs is just the second school built from the district’s educational specifications. Approved in 2011, ed specs spell out desired instructional activities and the physical spaces needed to support those activities.

“But the ed specs and the state-of-the-art facilities alone do not make a successful school,” she said. “It takes talented teachers, involved parents, a dedicated staff and engaged students to breathe life into a campus, and fortunately we have all that right here.”

After the speeches were over, board members and district staff were presented with white hard hats and silver shovels to pose for a few photos, symbolizing the start of construction. Others joined in as well.

“To those who will be working and learning here a year from now, I have three requests,” Board President Wallin shared a few moments earlier. “Love your new school, make it your own, and set the bar high for those who will follow in your footsteps.”

Picture above, from left to right: Assistant Superintendent Cassie Parham, Portola Springs Principal Heather Phillips, Board of Education member Paul Bokota, Board of Education member Lauren Brooks, Superintendent Terry Walker, Board of Education President Sharon Wallin and Board of Education member Ira Glasky.

IUSD’s security supervisor was honored this week by the Irvine Rotary Club in partnership with the Irvine Police Department for actions that led to the arrest of a burglary suspect last month.

Don Grudem, who joined the district as a campus control assistant in 1994, was presented with the Public Safety Partnership Award on Wednesday morning during a Rotary Club meeting at the Irvine Rancho Community Center.

“It is an honor to receive this award,” Grudem told the NewsFlash, “especially when it’s for doing your job.”

“You don’t set out to win awards,” he added. “You do your job because it’s what you love to do.”

Grudem was on the job at about 4:30 in the morning on Oct. 7 — which also happened to be his birthday — when he ran into a stranger exiting a classroom at Canyon View Elementary School. After a brief conversation, the quick-thinking supervisor took a photo of the man with his smartphone and contacted police.

The suspect fled the scene but was arrested about three hours later.

To recognize his vigilance, Grudem was presented with a framed certificate — he’s pictured holding it above — as well as a modest cash award. But there are even greater rewards for his daily work.

“The real honor for me is being part of this partnership with the community, the Irvine Police Department and our staff,” he said.

During the last school year, as IUSD was in the process of creating a sweeping new accountability plan, feedback from parents, staff and other stakeholders made it clear that mental health was a high priority.

So IUSD created a brand new position — coordinator of mental health — and tapped Melissa Di Scala for the role.

Di Scala was a natural choice. The former social worker joined IUSD in 2011 as a school psychologist at Creekside High School, and before that she took on similar responsibilities in the Colton Joint Unified School District and the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.

Along with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal State Fullerton, Di Scala has a master’s degree in educational psychology and an education specialist degree in school psychology from Chapman University. (She’s currently a doctoral candidate at Alliant International University.)

We sat down with Di Scala recently to talk about her new job and the work currently underway to support the mental health needs of more than 30,000 Irvine students.

***

NF: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. For starters, tell us about your new role.

MD: I’m the coordinator of mental health, crisis intervention and 504 plans. (Note: 504 plans are student accommodation plans based on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and later amended under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act.)

As far as mental health goes, we’re fortunate to have a vast amount of resources. Now it’s about building on that, identifying any gaps in our service coverage and determining if those gaps can be filled through community partnerships or university partnerships – or deciding if there are options we’ll need additional resources to cover.

That’s been the focus this year, and I’ve developed a mental health collaborative to gather input from different stakeholders to guide our work. I think the best way to go about ensuring a continuum of mental health services for students is to enlist IUSD professionals – our nurses, school counselors, school psychologists and district-level professionals – to take a look at what our needs are so that we can develop recommendations for the board. We’re also working to identify a few parents and students to join our collaborative. Their contributions will be valuable as we move into reviewing group interests and identifying options for meeting those interests.

Another part of your job is crisis-response.

Yes. We partner with the Orange County Department of Education when we have something that’s over and above what we can provide, but we also wanted to put in place a crisis-response team with our own staff. So we got that together, and it’s made up of 29 members, including school counselors, psychologists, nurses and our Project Success staff, which are counseling paraprofessionals at the secondary level. We also have some psychologist interns who have been trained and want to participate as well. Our team is now trained to respond to any traumatic event that affects a large percentage of the population. We are up and running and ready to go.

It sounds like your work, much like instruction, is data-driven.

Absolutely. Along with a needs assessment that was sent our to our principals, psychologists, counselors and nurses, we’re looking at the results of the California Healthy Kids Survey, as well as what our kids are saying. Next we will look at what our parents are reporting.

What needs are we seeing in Irvine?

We’re really seeing issues around anxiety and depression with students, primarily those in the upper elementary grades and the middle and high schools. And we’ve got to figure out how to support those needs because anxiety can take form for any number of reasons. It can be stressors in the home, peer conflicts, movement to a new city, the death of a family member – there are so many reasons behind the responses of anxiety and depression that it’s often hard to pinpoint and say, “This is the trend we’re seeing.”

We’re looking at how we can address these responses within the tiered supports that we currently provide, and what the research indicates is that schools that have implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) – which our schools thankfully have – are really the gold standard of addressing school climate issues and making school a comfortable place. Infusing mental health supports within the PBIS framework takes it a step further. And so our district is really looking at multi-tiered systems of supports: addressing issues at the universal preventative level, moving into a targeted level for students who need more support and then an intensive level for students who need even more support. The goal is to fill that pyramid of supports.

What resources are available for students struggling with mental health issues?

Through the Guidance Resources department, coordinated by Jenna Berumen, we have counseling paraprofessionals that provide a general level of service at all of our school sites. Our counseling paraprofessionals were initially grant-funded, but that grant ended, and now they’re funded partially through the City of Irvine’s Measure BB funds, as well as through the IUSD general fund.​ At all of the elementary school sites, the counseling paraprofessionals follow an evidenced-based curriculum that addresses things like social skills, emotional regulation, stress management and asking for help. At this level it’s about basic coping skills.

Then at the middle and high school levels we have counseling paraprofessionals who follow a looser curriculum where they’re looking at solution-focused strategies. So if a student presents an issue with a peer, a teacher or academic concerns, we’re really looking at all of the issues and solutions to resolve that. If that works for a student, that’s great. And if the student requires more support, then a referral can be made to the Irvine Family Resource Center (IFRC). What’s nice about the IFRC is that we have two licensed professionals there who provide counseling services to students and families as needed. Parenting classes are also offered there for parents who have students with challenging behaviors. The Irvine Family Resource Center is run by Susan Holt, and it really is a wonderful support that we’ve had in place for a number of years.

If a student is struggling with an issue, where should they start?

They can start with their school and ask for the student to participate in group counseling with a counseling paraprofessional. If they require more support, then they can ask for a referral to the Irvine Family Resource Center. We also have information on the IUSD website under “Resources for Parents.” (Click here to access the district’s Guidance Resources webpage.)

How do external factors, such as technology and the economy, impact mental health?

I think as we progress and change as a society, our responses to those changes evolve. The economy affects that as well. When there’s an economic downturn, the stress level elevates. There is such a thing as healthy anxiety. However, when there are too many stressors – an economic downturn, a death in the family, a need to move – that’s a lot for a person to manage. But I think there’s an awareness now at the national, state and local levels to really look at what we are doing to support the needs of our students, and at the same time we’re trying to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

I take it you’re seeing some positive developments in that schools are more focused on addressing mental health concerns?

Yes, and Irvine is really progressive in that respect. They’ve created this position to be a general education position, really looking at the needs of all students rather than only focusing on special education students, as some districts have.

Would you consider addressing mental health issues part a movement to support the whole child?

Yes, and it’s also about eliminating barriers to learning. We’re asking, “What is getting in the way of learning?” Because that’s what we’re ultimately charged with doing – educating children. So if there’s something getting in the way of that, we want to address that the best we can.

Lastly, do you like this work?

Absolutely. It’s definitely a love of mine. Thank you for the interview.

Irvine’s next comprehensive high school had a location, an attendance area and a stunning architectural design. And now it’s added another critical piece – a principal.

John Pehrson, who has led University High School for nearly ten years, has been selected to take the reins as the inaugural principal of Portola High School, which is on track to open in August 2016.

Pehrson, highly regarded for his role in shaping the academic powerhouse that is Uni, will begin his new assignment this summer. He will spend the next 18 months working on a monumental task list that includes completing construction, identifying a leadership team, engaging local stakeholders, hiring teachers and support staff, establishing the curriculum and designing a master schedule.

“For over a decade, John Pehrson has been a committed and visionary leader. There is no doubt that his experience, passion and dedication will be tremendous assets to the students, staff and community of Portola High School,” Superintendent Terry Walker said.  “Opening a new high school is a tremendous endeavor, so we feel extremely fortunate to have an educational leader of John’s caliber willing to accept this honor and challenge.”

Pehrson was appointed as the principal of Uni in 2005 after serving ten years in the Capistrano Valley Unified School District. In Capo, he served as a high school assistant principal and activities director and was part of the original team that opened Tesoro High School in 2001.

Prior to joining the administrative ranks, Pehrson taught physics and chemistry in the Whittier Union High School District, where he also coached basketball and volleyball.  He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Whittier College and a master’s degree in administration from Cal State Fullerton.

“It is a true honor to be selected as the principal of Portola High School,” said Pehrson.  “I have heard great things about the community and am already excited to begin working with everyone to build another incredible Irvine school.”

“The design of the school is amazing, but I know that the educational program and the people that will fill the classrooms and hallways are what will make it the top rate school that it is destined to be.  As we begin to assemble our leadership team this spring, I look forward to working with all of our stakeholders with a sense of deep responsibility, passion, forethought and, of course, Portola Pride.”

During John’s ten year tenure, Uni has consistently been recognized as one of the top high schools by publications including Newsweek, the Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report and the Orange County Register. The school also received a six-year clear accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges at its last review.

A strong proponent of ethics and integrity, Pehrson was selected by the Orange County Athletic Directors Association to receive the Champion of Character award.  He has also served as both president and representative to the Pacific Coast League.

John has been married to his wife, Becky, for 24 years. The couple has three children – Christa, Micah and Zach – who he credits with helping him sustain a focus on what’s important to students and their families.

Pehrson will continue to serve as principal at Uni through the 2014-15 school year, with a successor expected to be named by June.  Anticipating a large and highly qualified candidate pool, district officials are already planning processes to gather input from the Uni staff and community detailing the professional and personal traits they would like to see in their new leader.

Located on Irvine Boulevard just south of Sand Canyon Avenue, Portola High is already beginning to take shape. In October, IUSD and its partners staged a groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus, which will open its doors as the district’s fifth comprehensive high school.

The time has come, once again, to honor three Irvine educators that have been selected as IUSD’s elementary, middle and high school Teachers of the Year.

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This years Elementary School Teacher of the Year is Paula Venable, a fourth/fifth-grade teacher at Portola Springs Elementary School.

Venable began in IUSD twenty-seven years ago, and she continues to bring passion and excitement to her work on a daily basis. Her unwavering commitment and positive attitude help to foster strong support from all facets of the school community.

Venable’s impact as a teacher leader is felt on the IUSD Continuous Improvement Council, the Teacher Advisory Forum, and by the new teachers she has supported as a BTSA provider. She stays current with pedagogical changes by engaging in professional development at Columbia University during her summer breaks.

Striving to build a rapport of trust with her students, Venable’s classroom provides an environment which facilitates learning. She puts the learning of all students first, and recognizes that they are our legacy. As a founding member of Portola Springs Elementary School, she has fostered a spirit of community service in providing leadership opportunities for students.

***

Middle School Teacher of the Year is Susana Sarmiento, an English Language teacher at Venado Middle School.

Sarmiento is a natural leader, and as such, contributes to her school, the district and the community. She is deeply committed, collaborative, and well respected. She designs and shares curriculum, and is an active member of the campus Tutorial Committee, School Site Council and IUSD’s Teacher Advisory Forum.

The at-risk student holds a special place in the heart of Sarmiento. She is innovative and empowering and her daily work in the classroom illuminates her interest in creating learning opportunities which are accessible by all students.

When visiting Sarmiento’s classroom, there is overwhelming evidence of her student-centered teaching style. Her commitment to teaching and learning is clear, and her caring and sincere demeanor is the backbone of the positive rapport she has with students.

***

The High School Teacher of the Year is Christine Haley, a Language Arts teacher at Woodbridge High School.

Haley exemplifies collaboration, but it’s her enthusiasm for learning, humor and intellect that are at the core of her work. She is a versatile teacher who can engage all students, from Advanced Placement scholars to those who require additional help or are coping with learning difficulties. Haley supports student learning across all abilities and collaborates with her peers to meet the needs of individual students.

Outside the classroom, Haley chairs the English Department at Woodbridge High and is a lead teacher in transitioning the school into the Common Core. In addition, she works at the district committee level developing writing standards and providing staff development.

Haley is seen as an expert among administrators as well, as evidenced by her selection to serve on the self-study team and chair the WASC process.

***

Now in its 29th year, IUSD’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes exceptional instructors at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Nominations are submitted by district employees, and candidates are later interviewed by a committee that includes teachers, principals and administrators.

That panel ultimately narrows the field to three using the following criteria: Evidence of a wide range of instructional strategies used effectively; commitment to the teaching profession; and demonstration of Irvine teachers’ values of integrity, empowerment, learning, collaboration and trust.

IUSD also recognizes a handful of standout first- and second-year teachers, who are announced as “Teachers of Promise.”

All of today’s honorees will be formally honored in May at the Excellence in Teaching Awards Banquet, which is organized each year by the Exchange Club of Irvine and ITA.

In an exciting announcement from the Orange County Department of Education, IUSD’s very own Janelle Cranch, a buyer technician who works in the district office, has been named as one of Orange County’s Classified Employees of the Year for 2015.

Cranch has been a vital employee since 1989. Known for her customer service and leadership, her expertise is regularly sought after, and she has served in a variety of committees with IUSD.

Willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, Cranch inspires others through her level of commitment. From initiating a Red Cross Blood Drive to advocating for educational funding, she is an active and engaged member of the community.

Described as a tenacious advocate for staff and students and an iconic leader, she serves as chapter president of IUSD’s California School Employees Association. Her commitment, compassion and work ethic have earned her a reputation as one of the most beloved and respected members of the school community.

Established in 2008 by the California Department of Education, the Classified School Employees of the Year program annually highlights the contributions of employees who have performed exceptionally in support of public school students, from preschool through grade 12. Classified workers with a minimum of five years of service are eligible for the recognition, whether they serve at traditional schools, charter schools, district offices or county offices of education.

A committee consisting of community representatives and educators selected this year’s Classified Employees of the Year in the areas of child nutrition; maintenance, operations and facilities; transportation; para-educator and instructional assistance; office and technical services; and support services and security. A total of 60 employees were nominated in Orange County, and judges evaluated each application based on a state selection criteria organized around four themes — work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, and actions that go above and beyond.

Each of the six Orange County finalists are now scheduled to be honored at the OCDE Board of Education Meeting on April 15, and they’ll be eligible to compete for recognition at the state level.

Today, IUSD announced its five Classified Employees of the Year – Jody Butte, Alex Cruz, Julie Hicks, Rose Magda and Gerry Ruiz.  Classified employees include the men and women who work hard every day to ensure the District runs efficiently to serve our students and their families.  They include secretaries, custodians, paraeducators, bus drivers, maintenance technicians, clerks, food services staff members and all the other non-certificated workers.  Most are represented by the California School Employees Association (CSEA).

Similar to previous years, a caravan of District employees and Board Members traveled to each winner’s site to surprise them in front of their colleagues and in some cases their school sites.  This year’s well-wishers included Board Members Lauren Brooks and Sharon Wallin, Superintendent Terry Walker, district staff, CSEA President Janelle Cranch and the five 2014 Classified Employee of the Year winners.

Alex Cruz

The day started at 8:20 a.m., with the first stop at the District’s Maintenance and Operations facility to award Alex Cruz, Maintenance VI Plumber, with Classified Employee of the Year.  Alex has been with IUSD for 17 years and received this award for his positive “get it done” attitude, strong work ethic and his commitment to the District.

For several months, Alex was the District’s only plumber, responsible for all 40 District sites.  Previously, Alex had shared this role with a colleague who retired last year.  During a months-long period, Alex took on the increased workload with the utmost professionalism.  He worked with maintenance staff to ensure each site was well-maintained and functioning.

“IUSD is a great environment to work in,” said Alex.  “I enjoy doing what it takes to get the job done but it’s also a team effort.  I work with great and dedicated people.”

Jody Butte

Jody Butte, Supervisor of Nutrition Services at Northwood High School, was the next stop at 9:15 a.m. Jody has been with IUSD for 20 years and received the Classified Employee of the Year award for her leadership and outstanding customer service to Northwood Students.

Jody is known for caring for her students, nurturing staff and creating an environment of inclusion through her leadership.  Since she moved to Northwood High School during the 2012-13 school year, students who utilize the cafeteria for breakfast have quadrupled and students who purchase lunches have tripled. She goes out of her way to accommodate students’ requests for healthy snack and food items and talks with students daily to ensure she is meeting their needs.

“I love what I do,” said Jody.  “I love our students, IUSD and the people I work with.  This is so unexpected…I am honored.”

Rose Magda

The third stop was to Greentree Elementary where Rose Magda, Instructional Assistant Special Education, was awarded the Classified Employee of the Year in front of school staff and students at 10 a.m.  Rose has been with IUSD for four years and received the award for her compassion, unparalleled creative approach to serving students and for her extraordinary efforts to ensure every student is included.

Rose, known for her trademark phrase “Stop it!”, makes learning fun for students with profound disabilities.  In a typical day, she goes above and beyond to communicate to students that they are smart, kind, appreciated and most importantly, loved.  An example of her care is when she dressed up like a tree so she could help her student participate in the school play.  She dressed up so she would not be noticed while holding the student’s head up so the child could sing.

“Greentree students are so wonderful, they make me want to be better,” said Rose.  “I love the people I work with and feel honored.”  She concluded her remarks with, “Stop it!” and a smile.

Gerry Ruiz

Next up at 10:40 a.m. was Gerry Ruiz, PE Equipment Custodian at Irvine High School.  Gerry has been with IUSD for 14 years and received the Classified Employee of the Year award for his dedication, responsiveness and integrity.

Gerry is often proactive and demonstrates great leadership skills.  When one of Gerry’s colleagues’ wife went into labor, Gerry stepped up without hesitation to take on the workload so his colleague could be there for the birth.  The football team heavily relies on him during football season.  On Fridays, he will often work a 20-hour day.  A lot is requested of Gerry and he does it with a positive attitude and professionalism.

“I consider the people I work with to be family,” said Gerry.  “I like to help when I can and love working here with you all.”

Julie Hicks

The final stop at 11:25 a.m. was to College Park Elementary to award Julie Hicks, Media Tech I with Classified Employee of the Year in front of school staff and students.  Julie has been with IUSD for 10 years and received the award for her passion, creativity and dedication to helping develop students’ skills and love of reading.

Each week, Julie works with sixth-grade student council members to make video announcements on a variety of important school topics.  She helps the students write the scripts and edit the videos, which are shown during weekly library time.  She often works after school or on the weekends to ensure the production of the videos is perfect.  Many of Julie’s former students have taken these valuable skills and experience and pursued video production.

“The students inspire me each and every day,” said Julie.  “I love working here and with such wonderful people.  This is so surprising!”

Congratulations again to each winner, who will receive $1,000 courtesy of CSEA Chapter 517, as well as a jacket and commemorative plaque. They’ll also be honored at the June 2 IUSD Board meeting.

IUSD is pleased to announce Kristen Winn has been named Director of STEM. She has a strong background in STEM education, Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science
Standards, and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID).  

Kristen joins IUSD most recently from the San Mateo County Office of Education, where she served as Coordinator of Science and Engineering and was trained in design thinking and project-based learning.  As part of a regional team, she led the development and delivery of rigorous STEM curriculum and professional learning for Next Generation Science Standards.  She was also the director of the San Mateo County STEM Fair.

Prior to that, Kristen served as the AVID Regional Program Coordinator for San Diego County Office of Education.  In this role, she worked collaboratively to develop and deliver professional development and blended learning courses in the areas of Common Core State Standards, academic writing, Tutorology, critical reading and data analysis.  In addition, she taught middle school science for ten years in the San Juan Unified School District.

Tim Hornig has been named Coordinator of Student Services. Tim is an experienced high school administrator and teacher, who has worked collaboratively with students, parents, and school and district staff to build strong relationships and maintain a student-centered environment.  

Tim joins IUSD from San Dieguito High School Academy in Encinitas, California, where he has served as Principal since 2011.  Tim oversaw the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, integrated math, the school’s facility master plan (including the design and building of a new stadium and classrooms), and WASC Accreditation, while maintaining a culture intently focused on curricular supports for students.  His responsibilities also included support for all students, including “at-risk” youth, management of the San Dieguito Parent Foundation, communications with key stakeholder groups, staff development and leadership of more than 100 staff members.

Previously, Tim served as the Assistant Principal of Discipline and as the Assistant Principal of Guidance and Curriculum for Dana Hills High School. His responsibilities included student discipline, WASC Coordination, oversight of all guidance and academic counseling for students, testing, professional growth, UC/CSU matriculation, student intervention coordination and evaluation of Social Science, PE and Special Education.

He resides in San Clemente with his wife, Sarah, who is a fifth grade teacher, his daughter Kylie who is 9 and his son Owen who is 8.  Tim is excited to join the IUSD team and is looking forward to working with students, families, teachers and staff to support students and their families and to advance IUSD’s mission and goals.

Melanie Hertig has been named the Executive Director of Special Education. Melanie has a strong educational background, including her experience as an elementary and middle school teacher, school psychologist, and most recently, Director of Special Programs for IUSD. Her selection will provide continuity for the District, as she continues in a leadership role with the Special Education Department. Her new assignment begins July 13th.  

Melanie has been with IUSD since July 2014. In her role as a Special Education Director, she has supported secondary programs, the School Psychologist Department, and the Educationally Related Mental Health Services Department.

Prior to joining IUSD, Melanie served as Director of Special Education/SELPA for the Temecula Valley School District, where she was responsible for the daily functions of the Special Education Department. In this capacity, she assisted in developing and overseeing the district’s first Special Education Local Plan Area through a collaborative process with district and school staff, local agencies and advocacy groups. She oversaw the district’s expansion of the Behavioral Health Department, continued support for the Positive Behavior Intervention Support program, worked closely with school psychologists, consulted with legal counsel, reviewed case files, and participated in all areas of mediation and due process.

Melanie and her husband reside in San Clemente. She has two grown boys and just recently celebrated the college graduation of her youngest (who graduated in three year with honors!) from the University of Oregon.

IUSD pleased to announce Bob Curley has been named Principal of Beacon Park K-8 School, which is scheduled to open August 2016. His start date is July 1, 2016. In the interim, he will continue in his current role, while also planning for the opening of Beacon Park next fall.  To ensure a smooth transition and adequate planning time, Pat Mulhaupt, a retired IUSD elementary principal, will work at Bonita Canyon two days per week, starting in January.  Pat and Bob will work together to ensure continuity during the second half of the school year.  

Bob has been with IUSD for 26 years.  Most recently, he served as Principal for Bonita Canyon Elementary for 6 years, where he developed an excellent reputation as a site leader for working collaboratively with students, parents, staff and the community, including the PTA and the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.  His previous experience includes science teacher at Rancho Middle School; Math and Science Department Chair and Assistant Principal at South Lake Middle School; and Principal at Springbrook Elementary.

Bob is looking forward to taking on the challenge of opening IUSD’s newest K-8 school and will work closely with students, staff and parents to develop a student-centered learning environment.  He uniquely understands Irvine and the IUSD culture.  He is experienced at working with diverse student populations, high expectations for academic achievement and a broad range of extracurricular programs.

He resides in Fullerton with his wife and two daughters.  When he is not busy with work and his family, Bob enjoys spending time outdoors running and hiking.

Congratulations to Ben Case, music teacher at Northwood High School, for his designation as semifinalist for the Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation.  Ben is one of 25 semifinalists selected from 4,500 nominations from all U.S. states.  His nomination and the gold award presented to Northwood High School as a Grammy Signature School last May represent Northwood’s outstanding music program and Ben’s skill and dedication as a teacher. 

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (K through college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.  A joint partnership and presentation of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation, this special award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception.

In December, one recipient will be selected from 10 finalists, and will be recognized for his/her remarkable impact on students’ lives. The winner will be in Los Angeles during GRAMMY week to accept the award, attend the GRAMMY Awards ceremony and receive a $10,000 honorarium. The nine other finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants.

Click here to read CBS’ coverage of this prestigious honor.