Upland Unified School District Names New Assistant Superintendent

The Upland Unified School District took a big step toward fortifying the community’s junior high and high school education programs with the appointment of Alejandro “Alex” Ruvalcaba to the newly created position of assistant superintendent for secondary education.

Ruvalcaba, who will take over the new position on June 2, is the first of two new assistant superintendents in the UUSD’s educational services division. An assistant superintendent for elementary education will be appointed before the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year.

“This is a big step for this district and our secondary schools,” said UUSD Superintendent Nancy Kelly. “The onset of the Common Core State Standards will present considerable challenges, because it is a new way of thinking and a new way of learning. It’s critical that we give additional focus to our secondary schools to adapt to the new standards and requirements. Alex comes to us with a deep knowledge of Common Core and I’m delighted that he will be joining us in this crucial position.

“We’re thrilled to dedicate administrators to these two vital positions so that we are better able to give all of our schools at all levels the attention they truly deserve,” she said.  

“Prior to the adoption of the Common Core standards, most of the instructional focus, particularly in secondary education, was on subject area content,” said John Glenn, president of the Upland Teachers Association. “With the Common Core, there is now an added emphasis on instructing students to think critically. While this change is fully supported by Upland teachers, it has forced us to rethink the traditional structures of collaboration. Teacher communication and collaboration across grade levels and between the content areas is more important than ever before. Upland teachers believe that the addition of the assistant superintendent of secondary curriculum will be an asset in improving and strengthening communication within our secondary schools as well as between our secondary and elementary schools.”

Ruvalcaba has been principal of West Covina High School since 2010, during which time the school earned full six-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2012 and was named a California Distinguished School in 2013. He’s worked in education for the past 16 years, including eight years in school administration at both the middle and high school levels.

“I am excited to join the Upland team and look forward to supporting the district in its transition to Common Core State Standards,” Ruvalcaba said. “This is a unique time in education as we look to improve our teaching practices and prepare students to be college and career ready. I am excited to begin working with our teachers, administrators and support staff on this endeavor. I want to thank the board and Dr. Kelly for this amazing opportunity.”

Ruvalcaba was principal of Hollencrest Middle School in the West Covina Unified School District from 2008-2010, after serving as both assistant principal and principal at Washington Middle School in Pasadena. Prior to his administrative duties, Ruvalcaba spent nine years teaching at the elementary and middle school levels.

Upland High School left the Chaffey Joint Union High School District in 1991 and became part of the Upland Unified School District. The K-12 district has 10 elementary schools, two junior high schools and two high schools, including one of which is a continuation school.

For more information about the Upland Unified School District, please visit www.upland.k12.ca.us.