Superintendent Announces the Selection of
Five New Administrators

Dr. Troy Knechtel, Linda James, Keri Applegate, Michelle Dynes and Pam Schlappi
 

Three New Principals Selected

It is my pleasure to introduce the three amazing new principals who will be joining Central School District:
 

Keri Applegate has been selected to serve as the new principal at Bear Gulch Elementary School. Keri comes to us from the Ontario-Montclair School District where she has been a teacher, BTSA administrator, project administrator, assistant principal and principal during her 20 year career in education. Keri is currently the principal of Vineyard STEM Magnet School in Ontario where she has successfully transitioned a traditional K-6 elementary school into a magnet school that is currently gaining county recognition as an exemplary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics magnet program. Keri comes to us with great knowledge and experience in developing Response to Intervention (RTI) programs, working with second language learners and leading Professional Learning Communities. Keri has a wealth of knowledge, varied experiences and superb instructional skills that make her the perfect match for Bear Gulch.
 

Pam Schlappi will be the new principal at Doña Merced Elementary School. Pam has more than 25 years in education; serving as a teacher, Beginning Teacher Support Provider, instructional coach and elementary administrator for the Ontario-Montclair School District. Pam is currently a site administrator at Berlyn Elementary School. Previous to her assignment at Berlyn Elementary, Pam developed professional learning communities and facilitated lesson study sessions as an instructional coach at the Buena Vista School of Arts in Ontario. One of Pam’s references said, "She is a committed, inspirational individual who will stop at nothing to do what is right for students.” I know that Pam is the perfect leader to continue the tradition of excellence for which Doña Merced is known.
 

Dr. Troy Knechtel has been selected to take the helm at Coyote Canyon Elementary School. Troy is currently the principal at Pomeroy Elementary School in the Milpitas Unified School District. Troy is in his 22nd year of education. He has taught math at both the high school and middle school levels and has served as a site administrator at the high school, middle school and elementary school levels. Troy told me that he has truly found his niche at the elementary school level where he loves the atmosphere created by the students’ love for learning. He believes that the key to success is founded on positive relationships and he believes it is critical to spend time building and nurturing relationships with staff, students, parents and community. I am confident that Troy will meet and exceed the high expectations of the Coyote Canyon school community.

 

New Assistant Principal Selected

Please welcome Michelle Dynes as the new assistant principal at Ruth Musser Middle School. Michelle has been science teacher extraordinaire at RMMS for the past 13 years of her 20 year career in education. At the school level, Michelle has inspired student teachers, developed curriculum and assessments, participates on the school’s Professional Learning Community guiding coalition team and has successfully integrated 21st Century technology into her daily instruction. At the district level, Michelle has coordinated the district’s BTSA Program for the past three years, currently serves on the District Advisory Council, GATE Advisory Committee, the Health Education Advisory Committee and is a “go to” teacher leader for everything under the sun. Last year Michelle was recognized for her love of science and many instructional talents when she was selected to receive the very prestigious San Bernardino County Science Teacher of the Year Award. Michelle’s remarkable knowledge, enthusiasm for her profession and natural leadership abilities make her the perfect complement to the already outstanding RMMS administrative team.

 

School Administrative Manager

Linda James, currently serving as the Director of Kid/Teen Central, will be the new School Administrative Manager (SAM) at Coyote Canyon. Coyote Canyon is projected to have the staff and enrollment equivalent to that of a middle school next year and is in need of additional administrative support. Linda’s responsibilities will include the overall supervision of the Kid/Teen Central program and the SAM responsibilities at Coyote. A Child Care Administrative Manager for Kid/Teen Central will be hired to run the daily operations of the program under Linda’s supervision.  

New Textbooks for ALL!!

After a thorough cost analysis, the decision has finally been made to purchase new English Language Arts instructional materials K-8 for 2012-13 implementation.  Earlier this year a committee of Central School District K-8 teachers spent several days developing criteria and examining several textbook options to select the best instructional materials for our district.  Our goal was always to get these materials into the hands of our teachers as soon as possible, but additional state budget cuts and deferrals required us to be very thoughtful about the purchase.  Kudos to Eileen Galarze, Assistant Superinten-dent of Educational Services, and Lori Isom, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, for their diligence in determining that after you deduct our current costs for consumables and duplication, the actual costs to the district for new books is minimal.  Their amazing negotiating skills to obtain an outstanding purchase price and a three year no interest payment plan with the publishers further verified our decision to purchase now.  I hope you are as excited as I am!

Donna Libutti
Superintendent

"Budget on a Napkin"

Central School District is committed to remaining fiscally solvent
by effectively managing current
resources and pursuing
new revenue sources. 

Click on the link below to see the new "Budget on a Napkin" report on Central School District's budget.
 

BUDGET ON A NAPKIN