Sierra Madre School Principal Gayle Bluemel Announces Retirement

Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Edwin Diaz announced Thursday that will be retiring from her position as Principal of Sierra Madre Elementary and Middle Schools at the end of this current school year.

Bluemel also made the announcement at the 10th annual Sierra Madre School Auction held last Saturday in an effort to raise funds in the face of PUSD budget cuts and other challenges.

Her retirement, effective June 30, 2011, will mark the end of more than 20 years of service to the by Bluemel. Beginning as a classroom teacher in 1990, Bluemel moved on to the position of Assistant Principal before taking the lead role in 2006.

“I would like to thank Ms. Bluemel for her lifetime of service to Sierra Madre School and PUSD,” Superintendent Diaz, who , said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. “Sierra Madre continues to be one of PUSD’s greatest success stories due to Gayle’s consistent focus on delivering powerful instruction in every classroom and putting students first.”

The Sierra Madre School’s Academic Performance Index scores have increased by 112 points from 786 to 898 during Ms. Bluemel’s tenure. And in 2009 the school won the California Business for Education Excellence Honor Roll award, according to the PUSD statement.

Bluemel also led the way in a number of accomplishments that solidified her as strong advocate of arts education including the establishment of the PUSD Summer Musical Theatre program in 1995.

“I have treasured being part of the Sierra Madre School family since 1990. What a privilege it has been for me to spend the culminating five years of my career at the helm of this special place we all know and love,” Bluemel said in a statement Thursday. “I am so proud of what we have accomplished together, and thank you all, parents, students, and staff, for sharing with me our common commitment to academic excellence, creativity and community.”

In accordance with the school’s established of fostering academic achievement, creative culture, and a safe, nurturing environment – values which she established during her first year as Principal – Bluemel has worked to further in fundraising and governance work at the school through such programs as the Sierra Madre School Annual Fund, Parent Leadership Summit and Volunteer Training program.

The announcement of Bluemel’s retirement came at the same time as Irene Quiñones, principal of Rose City High School, said she would be leaving her post as well.

Officials from the PUSD said that a search process for new principals at both schools will commence in April and that the process will include input from students, parents, and community members.