Santa Monica High School will undergo some major administration changes at the end of this school.
SMMUSD Superintendent Sandra Lyon last week wrote to district staff announcing the following changes:
— Eva Mayoral (current JAMS principal) to Samohi as principal.
— Steve Richardson (current Will Rogers Learning Community Principal) to JAMS as principal.
— Florence Culpepper (current assistant JAMS principal) to Samohi as house principal.
— Clara Herran (current JAMS house principal) to JAMS assistant principal.
Lyon said several colleagues had chosen to seek other professional growth opportunities:
— Samohi principal Laurel Fretz.
— Samohi house principals Jason Kurtenbach, Renee Semik, and Stephen Franklin.
— Lincoln Middle School assistant principal Marvin Lawton.
Lyon said this was the time of year when veteran administrators evaluate their career paths and when superintendents determine administrative changes and assignments.
“As I developed my plan and vision for Samohi and other schools, several administrators were given varied options for the ensuing school year,” Lyon wrote. “Some administrators have decided, instead, to embark on different career paths and to seek other administrative and leadership opportunities as a result.”
Lyon said change was hard and these moves and decisions were not taken lightly.
“We know that staff and community members will be concerned about the changes and about the loss of beloved colleagues,” Lyon wrote. “I am counting on our district team to continue to message this with the professionalism and sensitivity that is required.”
