Ramona trustees approve middle school librarian as assistant principal
By Maureen Robertson
In the latest administrative move at Ramona Unified School District, trustees selected Melissa “Missy” Cobian as Olive Peirce Middle School’s assistant principal, effective Aug. 5.
Cobian, the middle school’s librarian and technology leader since 1998, thanked the trustees for the opportunity and for their support at their special meeting Monday morning.
“I’m excited,” she said after the meeting.
Cobian’s career in education started as a seventh- and eighth-grade teacher in Newton, Kansas. She is married to lifelong Ramona resident Joseph Cobian. Their daughter Katie was valedictorian of Ramona High School’s Class of 2012. Their son Marco is a sophomore at Ramona High.
One almost needs a chart to keep track of the changes since several administrators retired, resigned or received promotions.
Effective this school year, the district has six new principals, two new assistant principals and two new administrators in the district office.
Schools with new principals are:
•Ramona High School, Christopher King
•Olive Peirce Middle School, Pauline Leavitt
•Ramona Elementary School, Daniel Paquette
•Ramona Community School, Kathryn Gunderson
•James Dukes Elementary School, Joy Harris
•Mt. Woodson Elementary School, Robin Arend
At the district office, Tony Newman, former RHS principal, is district’s new assistant superintendent of human resources, and Theresa Grace, former Mt. Woodson Elementary principal, is senior director of education services.
Cobian replaces Arend in the OPMS assistant principal’s office, and Edward Van Hoose replaces Gunderson as RHS assistant principal.
Six of the changes are in-district promotions. Harris, King, Paquette and Van Hoose are new to the district.
During their four-minute special meeting Monday morning, trustees also approved several new employees, numerous extracurricular sports assignments, several changes in assignments and two leaves of absence, and accepted four resignations.
Resignations came from RCS/Mountain Valley Academy teacher Margaret Millen, James Dukes special education teacher Kathryn Skahan, Hanson Elementary library technician Cathy Long and special education aide Jennifer Hanlon.
Teachers new to the district include OPMS art teacher Catherine Phillips, OPMS social science teacher Tyson Knierim and RHS science teacher Mitchell Donelley and RHS agriculture teacher Alyson Tulloch. Also hired is school psychologist Alexis Roldan.
Applications for two teachers on assignment were due this week. The two hired will work in the district office and will have a combination of assignments, said Newman.
Only candidates already working in the district will be considered. In addition to their salary for a 184-day work year, they will receive a 7 percent stipend and additional days at a per diem rate as needed, states the district’s job posting.
“A big focus will be helping the district with the implementation of the common core,” he said, referring to new academic standards set to take effect in the 2014-15 school year.