EL MONTE – El Monte City School District has named eight new administrators for the 2020-21 school year, including key principals and a director of nutrition services.
Jenny Lee, Director, Nutrition Services: Lee, a registered dietitian, arrives from Central School District in Rancho Cucamonga, where she served for almost four years as the director of the child nutrition and purchasing.
"I believe that when we serve our students wholesome and inspiring meals while supporting their community through nutrition education and improving food access, school food service can provide the perfect setting for lifelong healthy eating habits,” Lee said.
Carl Caston, Principal at Cortada School: Caston has worked for El Monte City School District since 1997, including 13 years as a classroom teacher. For 10 years, he has been an assistant principal, assigned to the Opportunity Center, Durfee, Rio Hondo and Potrero schools.
“This coming year I want to work with the staff and community of Cortada School to increase the academic achievement for all students,” Caston said.
Javier Ortega, Principal at Rio Hondo School: Ortega He taught middle school for eight years at Rio Hondo and Potrero schools, and later served as a teaching assistant principal for four years as well as a summer school principal. He has been assistant principal at Rio Hondo for three years.
“I look forward to working alongside all of our Rio Hondo stakeholders in creating a supportive school environment, culture and place of academic excellence that we will all be proud to call our own,” Ortega said.
Evelyn Barba, Assistant Principal at Rio Hondo School: Barba started at Potrero School as a middle school teacher in 2010 and also served as a teaching assistant principal, summer school principal as well as other leadership roles focused on family and community engagement.
“I look forward to the upcoming school year where we will collaborate and make this year not only safe for all but a year to empower stakeholders to find their voice and reach their goals,” Barba said.
Melissa Negrete, Assistant Principal at Potrero School: Negrete has worked as a teacher on special assignment, English language instructional coach, summer school principal and teacher in third, sixth, seventh and eighth grades since joining the District in 2002.
“I am excited to serve as Potrero School's assistant principal,” Negrete said. “I look forward to working with the school leadership in guiding the staff by providing a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment for our students and community.”
Juan Flores, Assistant Principal at Wright School: Not only is Flores a former El Monte City School District student, but he has worked at the District for his entire career in education. He taught grades three through six and eight, as well as served as a teaching assistant principal and summer school program.
“Besides learning as much as I can, I intend to help realize the vision the school community has been working on, which includes cementing our status as a California Distinguished School,” he said.
Rosemary Garciduenas, Assistant Principal at Columbia School: Garciduenas has worked for El Monte City School District for 24 years, most recently serving as Gidley School’s assistant principal for two years.
“My goal this school year is to provide the Columbia staff with the support, guidance and leadership needed to meet the academic and social emotional needs of our students in a successful distance learning program,” Garciduenas said.
Read more about Garciduenas here.
Juan Carranza, Assistant Principal at Gidley School: A former El Monte School District student, Carranza has taught fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades, and served as a teaching assistant principal before becoming Wright School’s assistant principal, a post he held for three years.
“I hope to continue to grow as an administrator by learning from my colleagues and at the same time having the opportunity to share my knowledge that I have gained as a teacher and administrator at other sites,” Carranza said.