New Staff Members Introduced at Welcome Back Breakfast

The Lucerne Valley USD’s staff — the largest number in memory — gathered in the High School quad Wednesday morning for its annual Welcome Back Breakfast. The occasion presented staff members the opportunity to reconnect, for administrators to introduce the many new team members coming aboard, and for all to hear the common theme: The 2022-23 school year is going to be a great one for the LVUSD.

 

“It’s a start,” said Superintendent Peter Livingston. “It’s a new beginning for our kids and all of our folks.”

 

Mr. Livingston, who is in his seventh year as superintendent, commended the summer staff, which has been busy “doing amazing work” that included installing five new portable classrooms at the Middle High School and two at the Elementary School, upgrading the internet to 10G, providing food to school-aged children, and much more. 

 

Mr. Livingston kicked off the introductions by introducing the district’s new accountant, Kayla Gewirtz. 

 

Mrs. Joana Mora, who was recently hired as principal after serving as Lucerne Valley Elementary School’s Assistant Administrator of Instructional Improvement and Academic Coaching (AAIIAC), introduced new staff members that included Suzie Manley, who will become the new AAIIAC.

 

New certificated staff (teachers, counselors, etc.) at the elementary school, who were hired recently or in the past year are Candice Carter, Sarah Ericksen, Jamie P. Farrell, Felecia Figueroa, Angel Gaeta, Kristen Hapsas, Brian Lollock, Megn Lona, Cindi O’Donnell, Ashley Thompson, Aubrey Tibbs.

 

New classified staff members at the elementary school are Myra Barrera, Aaliyah Biggs, Melanie Bronas, Shannon Cerveny, Brody Evans, Matiana Garay Guardado, Rania Bouni, Joseph Park, Daniel Ruiz, Kristin Saunders, Tasha Smith, and Jordan Snow.

 

Assistant Superintendent Nate Lambdin, who also serves as co-principal of the Middle High School with Mrs. Kelly Boeing, said “I think it’s going to be a great year.”

 

The following were recently hired Middle High School certificated employees: Ashlee Ackerman, Gary Cope, Michael Flowers, Jonathan Graybill, Vanessa Jones, David Prouty, and Charles Ledbetter. The following are new classified employees: Abiram Alcala Diaz Barriga and Madeline Velazquez. Also coming aboard as new high school years are Michael Haecker, Matthew Neumann and Leann Stohs. 

 

New district food services employees are Marisol Hernandez, Jessica Jiminez, and Cynthia Whitehall. New technology team member is Jacob Klinger, and new Maintenance/Operations staff member is Bradley Strain. Larry Kennedy, Jr., was recently hired by the transportation department. Robert McDonald, who runs the automotive class and coaches golf, was hired last August.

 

Also speaking were the district’s transportation head Kimberly Snow and food services director Cindy Oliveira, who commended and introduced their new staff members.

 

Also speaking was Kevin Smilen, General Sales Manager at Victorville Motors, who talked about the It’s a Gas to go to Class program. It’s a Gas provides the region’s high school students with outstanding school attendance an opportunity to win a new vehicle (the title is held by the parents). The program, which was founded in the 2011-12 school year, has seen a number of students win vehicles — including several from Lucerne Valley High — and other prizes such as Apple iPads. Victorville Motors also has supported the Lucerne Valley FFA Program, including a pickup truck giveaway benefiting the popular program.

 

School Board President Jessica Risler, Vice-President Chelsea LaGrange, and Board Members Tom Courtney, who has been a member of the board for 27 years, and 12-year board member Jim Harvey, were in attendance to celebrate the occasion and honor district employees with certificates who have served for 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years.

 

Breakfast burritos, fruit and more was provided by Café 247, a regular contributor to the school district. The addition of Café 247 enabled the district’s food service workers to directly participate in the event.