New Administrators Announced for Several MVUSD Schools

A new principal for Warm Springs Middle School was among several promotions and new administrative assignments announced for the 2013-2014 school year Tuesday by Murrieta Valley Unified School District Superintendent Pat Kelley.

Current Alta Murrieta Elementary School Principal Terry Picchiottino has been promoted to serve as principal of Warm Springs Middle School, the district stated in a news release. Picchiottino will fill the vacancy left when Mick Wager assumes his new role as principal of Vista Murrieta High School.

Picchiottino has held the lead role at Alta Murrieta for nine years. Prior to that he served as assistant principal at Alta Murrieta for three years. He also spent nine years as a teacher. Picchiottino earned a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from San Diego State University and a master’s degree and administrative credential from Azusa Pacific University.

“I am excited about this new challenge and I look forward to working with the Warm Springs staff, parents and students,” Picchiottino stated.

Assuming the interim principal role at Alta Murrieta will be Brent Coley, who currently serves as an assistant principal at Shivela Middle School. Coley has been an educator for 17 years. He came to the district in 2002 and taught fifth grade at Tovashal for nine years. Prior to that he taught fourth and fifth grade in Fullerton School District for six years.

Coley holds bachelor’s and master's degrees from California State University Fullerton and his administrative credential from California State University State San Marcos.

“I look forward to building relationships with the staff, students and parents at Alta Murrieta as we work together to build on the academic excellence achieved at Alta,” Coley stated.

In another change, Monte Vista Elementary Principal Randy Rogers has been promoted to serve in the dual roles of director of human resources and purchasing director at the district level. He will replace Chuck Jones, who is retiring in June.

Rogers has 13 years of administrative experience, serving as principal at Monte Vista since 2004. Prior to that, he taught for 20 years.

“I am excited about this new opportunity to serve at the district level,” Rogers stated. “At the same time, I am sad to leave the Monte Vista school community
and the friends I have here.”

To that end, current Vista Murrieta Assistant Principal Howard Dimler has been promoted to serve as interim principal at Monte Vista. Dimler taught fifth and sixth grade for 10 years before coming to Thompson Middle School where he taught seventh grade. He moved to Vista Murrieta and served as a counselor before becoming an assistant principal nine years ago.

Dimler holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria in Canada, a master’s degree from the University of LaVerne and an administrative credential from Azusa Pacific University.

“I am really looking forward to returning to the elementary level and working with the staff, parents and students at Monte Vista,” Dimler stated.

And after serving for 10 years as principal at Buchanan Elementary, Mike Lorimer will move to Shivela to serve as an assistant principal.

“With the possibility of my moving out of the community during the coming year, I requested an assistant principal assignment to ensure continuity in leadership at Buchanan,” Lorimer said.

Replacing Lorimer on an interim basis will be Jennifer Randel, currently an assistant principal at Buchanan.

“Because I am confident in Jennifer Randel’s leadership ability, I feel certain that this is the right move for me,” Lorimer stated. “Jennifer will continue to support the Buchanan community and the academic excellence we have achieved.”

Superintendent Kelley added: “Mr. Lorimer has done an outstanding job as a principal at Buchanan. We will miss his leadership at Buchanan, but understand and support his decision.”

Randel came to the district in 2000, and taught sixth grade math and science at Thompson Middle for seven years. She then served as assistant principal at Rail Ranch and Avaxat elementary schools and Warm Springs Middle before moving to Buchanan. Prior to coming to the district, she taught first grade in Lake Elsinore Unified School District for eight years.

Randel holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree and administrative credential from California State University San Bernardino.

“I have enjoyed getting to know the staff, students and parents at Buchanan and I am excited to be given this opportunity to continue the journey with them,” Randel stated.

The interim principals will serve throughout the 2013-2014 school year, according to Karen Parris, spokeswoman for the district.

“During the second semester the district will conduct an inclusive process for the selection of the permanent principals for Alta Murrieta, Buchanan and Monte Vista. Parents, faculty and staff will be asked to provide their input during the permanent principal selection process,” Parris stated. “Parents will have an opportunity to meet each of the interim principals before the end of the school year.”

Kelley stated: “We are fortunate to have so many top quality people in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District which allows us to promote from within. These promotions and new assignments will utilize the special talents and skill sets of each of these administrators. I am confident they will use their proven leadership experience to build on the excellent educational programs that are in place at their new schools.”

Lastly, in another promotion announced in Tuesday’s news release, six-year Murrieta Valley High School Assistant Principal Mark Pettingill will move to Vista Murrieta High School to serve as deputy principal in place of Dimler.

“Mark has been an educator for 31 years and he is highly respected by students, staff and parents,” Parris stated. “He builds genuine relationships with everyone he encounters.”

Pettingill has experience as a high school teacher, head football coach and college athletic director. He earned his doctorate degree in educational leadership from La Sierra University in June of 2012.

As a result of the reassignments, two additional openings were created for an assistant principal at Buchanan and a dean of students at Murrieta Valley. Both will be filled from within, according to the district.