Local Executives and Leaders
Participated in Statewide "Principal for a Day"

Local business executives and community leaders served as “Principals for a Day” in schools throughout the Tustin Unified School District on March 18. The District participated in the 21st annual Principal for a Day program, sponsored by the California Educational Partnership Consortium.

The event, part of the statewide Educational Partnership Week (March 15-19), was a hands-on opportunity for Orange County business and community leaders to learn about the issues, challenges and accomplishments of school administrators in public education.

Each participant shared the role of school principal and performed various daily duties, such as visiting classrooms, meeting with students and teachers, and participating in other activities.

The 2010 “Principals for a Day” included Sgt. Dennis Gomez from the Orange Police Department, at Arroyo Elementary School; Natalie Merrick, customer service manager for Sprouts, at Barbara Benson Elementary School; Mike Call, manager for Costco, at Benjamin Beswick Elementary School; Elizabeth Medina, director of YMCA of Orange County, at Helen Estock Elementary School; Officer Devon Boatman from the California Highway Patrol at Guin Foss Elementary School; Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Menninger at Robert Heideman Elementary School; Faye Jeffers, owner of Cherry on Top Frozen Yogurt, at Hicks Canyon Elementary School; Dr. James DeLellio, faculty member at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, at Ladera Elementary School; Dave Campbell, auditor for Taft University and retired CFO for various Orange County companies, at C.C. Lambert Elementary School; Silvana Benaducci, site supervisor for YMCA of Orange County, at Loma Vista Elementary School; Yueh Chuang, senior project manager and groundwater hydrologist for CH2M HILL, at Myford Elementary School; Carol Burby Garrett, executive director of the Tustin Public Schools Foundation, at W.R. Nelson Elementary School; Sam Oh, assistant to Assemblyman Jeff Miller, at Peters Canyon Elementary School; Paul Kristedja, vice president of KPRS Construction Services, at Red Hill Elementary School; Gary Karamardian, owner of Zov’s Bistro, at Tustin Memorial Academy; Mark Howery, general manager of Pat & Oscars, at Tustin Ranch Elementary School; and PTA president Valerie Sabourin at Marjorie Veeh Elementary School.

Also, Merlin “Bud” Henry, former TUSD Board member, at Columbus Tustin Middle School; Ramon Martinez, presidential fellow at Chapman University and owner of Libreria Martinez, at A.G. Currie Middle School and Jeane Thorman Elementary School; Chris Smith, Tustin Public Schools Foundation Board member, at Hewes Middle School; Lt. Al Murray from the Irvine Police Department, at Pioneer Middle School; Julie Weaver, vice president of finance for C & R Waste & Recycling Services, at C.E. Utt Middle School; Steve Churm, CEO and publisher for Churm Media, at Beckman High School; Elysse James, reporter for the Tustin News, at Foothill High School; Clemente Gomez, district manager for IHOP, at Hillview High School; and Tran Hong, dean of technology for California Baptist University, at Tustin High School.

For more information, call the TUSD Communications Office at (714) 730-7339.