New Principal, Asst. Principal Named For CUSD's Sherman Oaks

CAMPBELL, CA - From Campbell Union School District: Campbell Union School District’s Sherman Oaks dual language immersion school welcomes new Principal Marco Chavez and Assistant Principal Pablo Viramontes.

"We believe Marco and Pablo will provide the leadership and stability necessary for Sherman Oaks to be the premier Spanish dual immersion school in our county and beyond," said district Superintendent Shelly Viramontez.

“Sherman Oaks has a history of leadership and strong community involvement that we can build upon,” Chavez said. “I look forward to working with the staff and families to develop Sherman Oaks into a recognized leader in dual immersion education.”

Chavez brings extensive experience and curriculum knowledge gained in an educational career that spans 23 years. He comes to Sherman Oaks from the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) where he had been the Administrator for Board/Superintendent Support and Community Relations. One of his responsibilities in this role was to provide leadership and direction for county-wide initiatives. Before that, he was Director of the SMCOE’s Networks for Success (N4S) team, through which he forged productive partnerships with many of that county’s school districts and helped them make impressive progress in improving student achievement. In that role, he also provided professional development and coaching to teachers in data analysis, strategies for supporting English Learners (ELs), culturally responsive education and parent and family engagement. He also coached principals and district office staff on effectively implementing and monitoring initiatives.

His career includes 16 years in Ravenswood School District, where he served as the Director of Categorical Programs and Multilingual Services, principal and classroom teacher. Prior to that, Chavez was a teacher at River Glen Elementary, in San Jose Unified School District, and was a Professor of English at the University of Colima, in Mexico. He holds a Master’s degree from San Francisco State and a Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame de Namur University.

Assistant Principal Pablo Viramontes shares Chavez’s aspirations for Sherman Oaks. “Alongside some of the most dedicated and talented staff, I look forward to continuing our efforts in providing a top-notch dual immersion experience for our students and families,” he said.

Viramontes came to Campbell Union School District in 2007 as School Counselor at Campbell Middle School. He later served as that school’s Dean of Students, and last year he served as Sherman Oaks’ interim principal. His background in community building and designing school-wide systems that promote positive behavior will help continue to the strong sense of community that exists at Sherman Oaks.

Sherman Oaks, located at 1800 Fruitdale Ave., in San Jose, California, operates a Spanish-English dual immersion program for children in transitional kindergarten through 6th grade. It is one of 12 schools in the Campbell Union School District.

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