NEWS                                                                                        Walnut Valley Unified School District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                880 S. Lemon Avenue

June 28, 2012                                                                          Walnut, CA 91789

Contact:         

Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources

(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204

WALNUT, CA—The Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the recommendation to hire Steven Dorsey as Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Joan Perez as Principal of Collegewood Elementary, and Jennifer De Anda as Principal at Vejar Elementary during the meeting held on June 27.

“We’re excited to bring these three new administrators on board,” said Superintendent Dr. Dean Conklin.

Steven Dorsey brings 15 years of experience in education to his new position in Walnut Valley.  For the past six years, he served as a Principal in the East Whittier School District.  Prior to that, Steven was a Teacher at Valencia Park Elementary School in the Fullerton School District, he taught English as a Second Language in the North Orange County Community District, and began his teaching career at Glenn L. Martin Elementary School in the Santa Ana Unified School District.  Prior to serving in education, Steven was as a Deputy Sheriff for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for four years.

Steven holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton and Master of Science degree in Education from National University.  He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at California State University, Fullerton.

Steven fills the vacancy left after the June retirement of Jan Keating, Director of Pupil Personnel Services. 

“I am very happy to be in Walnut Valley,” Steven said at the meeting. While introducing his wife Marla, Dorsey said that they were also celebrating their 20th Anniversary.  “We’ll always remember tonight! I can’t wait to work with the team here at Walnut Valley,” he said.

Three Walnut Valley Schools will have new school leaders in the fall of 2012.

Joan Perez brings 22 years of experience in education to her new position as Principal at Collegewood Elementary School.  For the past four years, Joan served as a Reading Language Arts/Common Core State Standards Coordinator at the Orange County Office of Education.  In addition, she was an Early Intervention for School Success (EISS) Program Specialist, and held several positions in the Walnut Valley Unified School District from 2002-2007 including Elementary Learning Specialist/Title I Coordinator, Teacher, and Intervention Summer School Administrator.

She also taught at Cullen Elementary in Glendora Unified School District and Loma Vista Avenue Elementary in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Joan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Whittier College and Master of Science degree in Instructional Leadership from National University. She received her Administrative Credential from Azusa Pacific University.

“I’m excited to be back in the District and working with students, parents, and staff members at Collegewood.  I was excited just stepping on campus for the interview!” she said.

“We’ve known Joan from her time here in the District.  She left Walnut Valley to go to the Orange County Office of Education where she has gained a great amount of experience,” Dr. Conklin said.

Joan replaces Principal Carolyn Wills who will move to Evergreen Elementary to fill the vacancy left after Principal Dr. Don Trimmer’s June retirement.

Jennifer De Anda brings 18 years of experience in education to her new position as Vejar Elementary School Principal – the school where she began her teaching career in 1996.  For the past four years she has served as the school’s Title I Coordinator, Administrative Designee, and Elementary Learning Specialist. Prior to that she was the Title I Coordinator at Walnut Elementary, and has been the K-8 Intervention Summer School Principal for the past four years. 

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Fullerton and Master of Education degree from Chapman University.

“I am very happy to be continuing to serve at Vejar and am ecstatic to be able to continue to work with the team and families there,” she said.

“Jennifer is someone we know well.  We didn’t have to look far to check her references,” Dr. Conklin said.

Jennifer fills the vacancy left after the June retirement of Principal Steve Carr.

“I’ve had long conversations with a number of people – teachers, staff, and parents – regarding each of these individuals, and Walnut Valley will be strengthened with the addition of these outstanding administrators,” Dr. Conklin added.

Jennifer De Anda has been named the new Principal at Vejar Elementary School.

Steven Dorsey has been named the new Director of Pupil Services in the Walnut Valley Unified School District.