By Misty DUPLESSIS

On Aug. 20, GUSD students are expected to return to school where many students will find district-wide changes in effect.

During the July 17 school board meeting, position appointments were approved for the 2012 school year. While some staff members have transitioned out of the district, other dedicated professionals will find themselves with new titles, new roles and new schools to call home for this coming year.

Dr. Monica Makiewics is settling into her new previously announced role as principal for Glendale High School. Joining her as associate principal will be Crescenta Valley High School’s former associate principal Mike Bertram.

“He is going to Glendale High School, which he is familiar with, to work with our new principal,” said Deputy Supervisor John Garcia.

Dr. Rene Valdes, from GHS, will move into the associate principal position at Crescenta Valley High School.

Valdes has served as a teacher, athletic director and assistant principal at GHS and worked with CVHS principal Michele Doll when she was assistant principal at GHS.

Former GHS principal D. Deb Rinder will work in the district office as the executive director of Education Services where she will oversee programs for special needs students.

Another school affected by change is Valley View Elementary in La Crescenta. Valley View’s principal Carla Walker will lend her experience and gentle nature to the students at John Marshall Elementary.

GUSD employee Steven Frasher is excited about the new developments that are coming up this year.

“Carla’s experience, skills and personality were recognized as a very good fit for a vacancy that occurred at Marshall Elementary School. Mrs. Walker is a tremendous asset to any school,” said Frasher, adding that there are still changes to come this year.

As Valley View said goodbye to Walker, they welcomed Dr. Adriana Pestonji who began her teaching career at Balboa Elementary and worked as a shared principal assistant at Mark Keppel and Thomas Edison elementary schools.

Theodore Roosevelt Middle School’s principal Lynn Marso will join the district office and will pass along the principal title to Dr. Mary Mason who brings decades of experience from several other Glendale Schools.

Clark Magnet High School principal Doug Doll will be splitting his duties as principal at Clark with working at the district in the Career and Technical Education program.

District Coordinator Lise Sondergaard helped implement the new Transitional Kindergarten at GUSD and now joins Mark Keppel Elementary Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School as the principal.

And citing budget reasons, Public Information Officer Stephen Frasher will no longer be with the district. His duties were to act as a liaison between the district and the public as well as working with the media.

  MISTY DUPLESSIS