Santa Monica School District Fills Top Posts

By Lookout Staff

June 11, 2012 -- The Santa Monica-Malibu School Board on Thursday welcomed three new administrators who will fill top posts held by long-time employees who will be retiring at the end of this month.

Dr. Mark Kelly will take over as the director of student services, which will be left vacant when Marolyn Freedman retires later this month.

Kelly is an expert in “best practices to ensure the academic and personal success of all students,” according to SMMUSD officials.

As a former co-principal at Santa Monica High School and, later, principal of Malibu Middle/High School, Kelly has over a decade of experience as an administrator in SMMUSD.

During his tenure as principal, Kelly, “promoted the development of student leadership through the many student organizations on campus and provided students with a variety of academic experiences during their high school years,” SMMUSD officials said.

Shirley Compton will take over the position of principal of Grant Elementary from Alan Friedenberg while Dr. Pamela Herkner-Chasse will take over for Barry Yates as principal of Juan Cabrillo Elementary School.

A former teacher, Compton was assistant principal at John Adams Middle School and at Grant Elementary School and is “well-versed in best collaborative practices among teachers, students, families, and communities,” district officials said.

“Under Ms. Compton's leadership, JAMS had an increase in positive school behavior as the result of the adoption and thorough implementation of a new school-wide discipline policy,” officials said.

The new-comer is Herkner-Chasse, who comes from the Conejo Valley Unified School District, where she has been serving as the Principal of Ladera Elementary School for the past four years.

Herkner-Chasse has an extensive background in administration and work with with special education students.

She has worked as “principal of Sycamore Canyon School, principal of Glenwood Elementary School, summer school principal for Special Education, principal of Pierpont Elementary School, a resource specialist teacher, and the director of education at Woodview-Calabasas Psychiatric Hospital,” officials said.

Dr. Sally Chou, chief academic officer, will be retiring at the end of June.

While there, “she led special education meetings, revised the School Safety Plan, participated in Project-Based Learning staff development meetings, and organized a bullying prevention program on campus,” officials said.