PUSD UPDATE

September 25, 2023

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

Dear PUSD Community,

One of the goals in my 100-Day Plan is to listen to the PUSD community about our district’s strengths, challenges, and strategies for improvement. I invite you to join me at a Town Hall on Wednesday, September 27 from 4-6 p.m. at Octavia E. Butler Magnet. Details are below.

In this week’s Update, we celebrate our creative teachers, welcome new leaders to the PUSD family, and invite you to see our student achievements. PUSD is hosting the annual College Night.

Please take a few minutes to catch up on the latest district news and have a great week!

Sincerely

Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent

MIDDLE SCHOOL MOVIE MAKERS

PUSD students are getting ready for the red carpet! On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, middle school students who participated in PasadenaLEARNs 2023 Summer of Discovery Program will have a red-carpet premiere of their very own short films at the Regal Paseo theater in Pasadena. The Red-Carpet event begins at 6:00 p.m. with the film debut at 7:00 p.m. Through a PUSD partnership with Unleashing Giants and a program called Lights! Camera! Future! (LCF), students learned writing, directing, and acting from industry pros. Attendance is free. Movie Premiere Flyer

Movie premiere flyer for the LEARNs Film Festival at the Regal Paseo

PUSD LIBRARIAN/COACH CELEBRATED

Congratulations to John Muir High School librarian and aquatics director Micol Issa! The Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation surprised Ms. Issa with a $1,000 gift card as part of CFP’s Extra Yard for Teachers week which celebrates educators across the country. Ms. Issa was named the CIF Division 6 Coach of the Year for leading Muir to win its first-ever Boys CIF Water Polo Championship in its first year back as a varsity sport last November.

TOWN HALL WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT

Join Interim Superintendent Elizabeth J. Blanco at a Community Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 in the library at Octavia E. Butler Magnet.

Town Hall with Interim Superintendent Blanco flyer

SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE NIGHT 2023

Coming soon! Our annual college fair will be on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. PUSD will host over 100 colleges and universities at the Pasadena Civic Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, from 4-8 p.m. PUSD College Night 2023 is a free event and all ages are welcome.

PUSD College Night Flyer - Your Future Starts Here! October 4, 4-8 pm Pasadena Civic Center

ENROLL IN PUSD

For families considering their middle and high school options, the Pasadena Education Network (PEN) will present two in-person programs this coming month: on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Myth vs Reality: Middle School Parents Panel and on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, High School Options 101, which features a panel discussion with the principals of Blair, Marshall, Muir, and PHS. Get your questions answered at these in-person events! For more information on enrollment, visit pusd.us/enroll.

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WELCOME, NEW PUSD LEADERS!

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Dr. Jen Alcazar is our new Director of Human Resources. She joined PUSD from the Walnut Valley Unified School District, where she has worked in human resources. Dr. Alcazar has served as principal, assistant principal, science teacher, and technology coach in the Santa Ana and Walnut Valley school districts. She also facilitated professional learning for secondary math and science teachers at University of California, Irvine. “There is no greater impact on student learning than the quality of the staff students interact with,” she said. “Ensuring our staff are highly qualified to deliver exceptional instruction and build nurturing relationships is critical to the lifelong learning of our students. This is why I am passionate about the importance of a vibrant personnel office that seeks and supports excellence for all learners.” Dr. Alcazar has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Doctorate of Education in STEM Leadership.

Altadena Arts Elementary Magnet, Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, and Rose City High School are welcoming new principals, pending approval by the Board of Education:

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Michael Bell, Ed.D., has been appointed principal of Rose City High School, pending approval by the Board of Education. Dr. Bell is a product of PUSD schools and began his career as a math teacher in the district. He was principal of Focus Point Academy. Dr. Bell says, “My desire is to create this type of atmosphere where students can meet their full potential.” Dr. Bell earned a bachelor's degree from Tuskegee University, a master's degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Doctorate from Bradley University.

Dr. Bell succeeds Brian Stanley, who has served as Principal of Rose City High School since 2015. Mr. Stanley accepted a position as Principal of Twilight Adult School and Child Welfare and Attendance as well as Youth in Foster Care, where he will serve students across the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). Mr. Stanley has done tremendous work with the students, staff, and educational partners of Rose City, as a teacher, dean, and assistant principal. Under his leadership, Rose City was named a California Model Continuation High School.

Dr. Dana Hill is the new principal of Altadena Arts Magnet. She succeeds Dr. Benita Scheckel who has accepted a position in a neighboring school district. Most recently, Dr. Hill has served as assistant principal on both Eliot and Altadena’s campuses. She joined Altadena Elementary in 2015 and was on the team that successfully wrote the arts magnet grant that fueled the school’s programs and growth. Dr. Hill was named Pasadena NAACP's Outstanding Teacher of the year and received the “Star of Education” Award in 2008. She is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, University of Phoenix, and Pepperdine University where she earned her doctorate. She says, "I am excited to embark upon this new role of leadership on the campus I love so much. I’m looking forward to maintaining our excellence in Art as well as working with our staff, parent groups, and community partners to make Altadena Arts Magnet the ideal community school.”

To support Eliot Arts Magnet until a new principal is named, Penny Fraumeni, a highly-respected retired principal with previous arts experience, will serve as interim. Ms. Fraumeni was named National Principal of the Year in 2018, California Distinguished Principal in 2011, and is a former member of the Board of Education of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. She was the founding principal of Fairgrove Academy in La Puente, California, and led its transformation into an arts magnet school.

YOM KIPPUR

Since Sunday at sunset, Jewish communities around the world have been observing Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Yom Kippur ends this evening.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS KICKOFF OCT. 1

TRANSIT RE-ROUTING

New school year, new bus schedule! Starting Oct. 2, Pasadena Transit is adjusting its routes to coincide with new afternoon bell times at our schools. For more information, visit PasadenaTransit.net.

Pasadena Transit: New bell schedule, new bus schedule starting October 2

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UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

Special meeting of the PUSD Board of Education – Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 6:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at www.pusd.us/Page/639

Regular meeting of the PUSD Board of Education – Thursday, Sept. 28 at 4:00 p.m. Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236), 351 S. Hudson Ave, Pasadena. Agenda at www.pusd.us/Page/639

PUSD UPDATE

September 25, 2023

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

MIDDLE SCHOOL MOVIE MAKERS MIDDLE SCHOOL MOVIE MAKERS

PUSD LIBRARIAN/COACH CELEBRATED PUSD LIBRARIAN/COACH CELEBRATED

TOWN HALL WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TOWN HALL WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT

SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE NIGHT 2023 SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE NIGHT 2023

ENROLL IN PUSD ENROLL IN PUSD

WELCOME, NEW PUSD LEADERS! WELCOME, NEW PUSD LEADERS!

YOM KIPPUR YOM KIPPUR

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS KICKOFF OCT. 1 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS KICKOFF OCT. 1

TRANSIT RE-ROUTING TRANSIT RE-ROUTING

UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS