New Sierra Madre School Principal Announced

In a press release issued late Tuesday PUSD officials announced the appointment of Esther C. Salinas to the Principal position of Sierra Madre School left vacant by Gayle Bluemel, who .

Salinas will take the helm of effective Aug. 21, the first day of the 2011-'12 school year.

Salinas comes to the position from the Burbank Unified School District and, before that, the La Cañada Unified School District and the Glendora Unified School District.

*We're working on getting a photo up as soon as possible.

Here's the full PUSD press release:

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Jon R. Gundry today announced the appointment of Esther C. Salinas as principal of Sierra Madre School. Her appointment is scheduled to take effect before the new school year begins on August 31.  She replaces Principal Gayle Bluemel, who retired in June.

"Ms. Salinas' vibrant and inspirational leadership, her accomplishments as an educator and her experience in the strategic alignment of resources to serve students will be an asset to Sierra Madre School," said Superintendent Gundry. "I am pleased to welcome her to PUSD."

Ms. Salinas was selected after a rigorous process that began in April and involved interviews with teachers, parents, community members, and representatives from the district's bargaining units.

"I am honored to be selected to lead Sierra Madre School to further academic achievement by building upon a rich tradition of excellence," said Ms. Salinas. "I look forward to working with Sierra Madre's distinguished faculty and staff, supportive families and community partners to inspire and prepare students for successful futures."

She brings a decade of experience as an elementary school principal and administrator, most recently in the Burbank Unified School District at Roosevelt Elementary and Washington Elementary. Previously, Ms. Salinas served as director of the district's human resources and educational services.

During her tenure as principal of Jefferson Elementary from 2005-2009, the school was named a California Distinguished School in 2006 and a Los Angeles County BRAVO finalist for excellence in the arts in 2007.  She was principal of Conejo Elementary School in the Conejo Valley Unified School District from 2003-2005, and led the school to win the Title I Academic Achievement Award in 2005.

Previously, Ms. Salinas was interim principal of La Cañada Elementary and Palm Crest Elementary in the La Cañada Unified School District, where she led the expansion of a reading intervention program for students in grades K-6 from 2000-2001.  She was a curriculum specialist at Palm Crest, and joined the school as a teacher in 1996.  She began her career as a teacher in 1995 in the Glendora Unified School District.

Ms. Salinas was a research and processing coordinator for a civil engineering firm in Diamond Bar from 1987-1996.

She earned a Bachelor of Science from Bob Jones University in South Carolina, a Master of Education from Azusa Pacific University, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from California State University, Los Angeles, and is a candidate for a Doctor of Education in K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings at the University of Southern California.