The Hart School District is happy to announce five new assistant principals were selected for the 2014-15 school year at the regular Hart District Governing Board meeting held on June 18. These positions became open following several administrative changes, including the retirement of two high school principals and a junior high school assistant principal. Four of the positions will begin effective July 1, 2014 and one will be effective on January 1, 2015, following the retirement of another assistant principal.

The following assistant principal appoints have been made:

Yvett Landeros to Golden Valley High School

Jose Malave to Placerita Junior High School

Benjamin Wobrock to Rancho Pico Junior High School

Shellie Holcombe to Saugus High School

Elizabeth Wilson to Valencia High School (effective Jan. 1, 2015, following the retirement of Ron Hilton).

From left: Holcombe, Wobrock, Wilsom, Malave, Landeros.

(Shellie Holcombe, Benjamin Wobrock, Elizabeth Wilsom, Jose Malave, Yvett Landeros)

All five bring a wealth of previous school site teaching, leadership and administrative experience to their new positions. More than 130 applications were received from internal and outside candidates for the positions.

Golden Valley High School: Yvett Landeros

Landeros comes to the Hart School District from Los Angeles Unified School District where she most recently served as Assistant Principal of the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts High School, where she was the administrator for school counseling services, special education and the visual arts academy for the past five years. In all, she worked for LAUSD for 10 years, including as a junior high school counselor. She was a teacher prior to working for LAUSD starting her career in 1997. Landeros received her bachelors of science in sports medicine from Pepperdine University in 1997, her multi-subject teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach in 2003, her masters of science in educational counseling from University of La Verne in 2004 and her administrative credential from Cal State Northridge in 2007. Landeros is bilingual in Spanish.

“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Hart District,” Landeros said. “ I look forward to meeting the staff, students and parents in the community.”

Placerita Junior High School: Jose Malave

Malave has worked for the Hart School District since 2005, most recently at La Mesa Junior High School as and English and Spanish teacher, ELD program and Title 1 coordinator, assistant principal substitute and school site webmaster. He additionally teaches English as a second language at Golden Oak Adult School. Jose started his career as an English teacher for the Department of Education in Puerto Rico from 1990-1997 and served as a communications sergeant in the US Marine Corp from 1997-2004, where he received a certificate of commendation in the Persian Gulf War, several other service medals an Honorable Discharge after two tours of duty. Jose received his bachelors of art and masters of art from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, in 1994 and 2001, respectively. Malave earned his administrative credential from California in 2005. Malave is also bilingual.

“I feel honored to become a member of Placerita Junior High School,” Malave said. “Established in 1960, it is a school with a strong legacy in this Valley. Placerita’s motto, ‘Pride in Excellence’ says it all.”

Rancho Pico Junior High School: Benjamin Wobrock

Wobrock has worked for the Hart School District since 2002 as a math teacher and math department chair at Valencia High School. During his time there, Wobrock was part of the professional development team, served as a technology coach and was an administrative intern at several of our campuses. Wobrock was also the JV and freshman baseball coach. He was teacher of the year for 2012-13. He earned his bachelors of science in math from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2001, his masters of art in educational leadership and his administrative credential from Cal State Northridge in 2001.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Rancho Pico team and look forward to supporting the great work everyone does there,” Wobrock said. “The students, staff and parents are all wonderful.”

Saugus High School: Shellie Holcombe

Holcombe has worked for the Hart School District since 2010, and previously worked as a teacher in the Sulphur Springs School District since 1998. Holcombe was previously an English teacher at Canyon High School, and served on the professional development and leadership team, was the WASC coordinator, substitute assistant principal, CAHSEE testing administrator, and ELD and intervention coordinator. Holcombe has been a teacher on special assignment overseeing the English Language Development program since 2012 involved in LCAP goal development, ELD placement, teacher training and working on common core implementation for ELD. Holcombe earned her bachelors of art in liberal studies from Cal State Northridge in 1996, her masters of art in educational leadership and administrative credential from Cal State Northridge in 2011.

“As a Saugus graduate, I’m extremely excited to return to my alma mater as an assistant principal,” Holcombe said. “I’m looking forward to working with the Centurion staff, students and parents.”

These four newly appointed assistant principals will start in their new positions effective July 1, 2014.

Valencia High School: Elizabeth Wilson

Wilson has worked for the Hart School District since 1997 as a business teacher and CAD /drafting teacher and practical arts department chair at Valencia High School. Wilson has been the school to career coordinator since 2007 and also previously was a special education teacher, technology coach, WASC co-chair, administrative intern, part of the school leadership team and is involved on the Valley Industry Association Education Committee. She received her associates of science degree in mechanical and architectural drafting from COC in 1994, her bachelors of science in business administration from University of La Verne in 1996, her masters of science from University of La Verne in education in 2000, another master’s degree in educational administration and her administrative credential from Cal State Northridge in 2013. Wilson will continue in her current assignment until beginning as an assistant principal beginning the second semester in January 2015.

“I am excited to join the administrative team at Valencia High School and I look forward to the successes and challenges that lie ahead,” Wilson said. “The students, staff, parents and the community are a pleasure to work with and I am enthusiastic to continue to support and collaborate for the success of our students.”

The Hart School District welcomes Landeros, Malave, Wobrock, Holcombe and Wilson to their new assignments.