Pasadena Unified Announces Selection of Two New Principals, New Equity and Access Coordinator

The Pasadena Unified School District on Tuesday announced the selection of a new principal for Pasadena High School, a new principal for Altadena Elementary School and a new program coordinator for the District’s Equity and Access program.

The District announced that “the new members of the PUSD leadership team” are:

Trudell Skinner, Program Coordinator of Equity and Access
Promoted to the position of Program Coordinator of Equity and Access after a competive process, Trudell Skinner has been principal of Blair Middle and High School since 2010. During her tenure, Blair, an International Baccalaureate School, was named a 2011 California Distinguished School.

As Coordinator of Equity and Access, Skinner will be responsible for the coordination of educational programs and services that identify, accelerate and support underserved students.

“I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that our traditionally underserved students have access to strong teachers and challenging curricula,” said Skinner. “We will work to remove barriers that impede an equal opportunity to succeed.”

Roberto Hernandez, Principal, Pasadena High School
Selected through a competitive national process, Hernandez is a “collaborative leader” with experience as both a middle and high school principal. He joins Pasadena Unified from Sheldon Early College High School in Texas and replaces Gilbert Barraza, who was promoted to District Athletic Director as previously announced in March.

“I am excited and privileged to serve as the Principal of Pasadena High School,” Hernandez said. “I look forward to working together with the staff, faculty, and community of PHS to strengthen and sustain excellence and success for each of our students. Together with staff, we will be committed to establishing a safe, inclusive culture that identifies and develops the strengths of each student. By providing students with equal opportunity and access to a variety of programs and activities, we will develop students academically and socially so that they are prepared to compete in college and the workforce after graduation. Go Bulldogs!”

AnaMaria Apodaca, Principal, Altadena Elementary School
Apodaca was principal of Field Elementary School for nine years where she led the school’s Mandarin Dual Language Immersion program and technology integration.

Of her appointment as principal of Altadena Elementary, she said, “It is an honor to accept the position of principal at Altadena Elementary School and to have this opportunity to serve the community where I grew up and where I began my PUSD career as a teacher. It is my intention to meaningfully engage with all of the members of the Altadena Elementary School team – to listen, learn and work with the teachers, staff, and parents to develop a plan that best supports every child.”

“I can’t wait to get started,” she said.

Principals Apodaca and Skinner will continue to lead their respective schools for the remainder of the academic year and will transition to their new assignments in the summer of 2016. Meetings will be held with Field and Blair stakeholders, students, employees and parents to solicit input in developing new principal profiles to inform the recruitment and selection process.