The coming school year will mean fresh faces at local schools, as Scotts Valley High School and Brook Knoll Elementary School get new principals this summer.
Valerie Bariteau will take over Gregg Gunkel’s post at the high school after he retires, and Phillip Menchaca will be the new principal of Brook Knoll, following Kathy Frandle’s retirement.
“We’re happy to have them. They were the most qualified of all the applicants,” said school district Superintendent Susan Silver.
Bariteau, 53, has been the assistant principal at Scotts Valley High School for five years and said the move to principal feels like a natural step.
She said she aims to continue meeting academic state standards, focus on special-needs students and try to beautify the campus.
“Resources are definitely limited, and it’ll be a challenge. Since there is a lack of support from the state level, I’m hoping to look at help locally,” Bariteau said. “I also want to make sure that, as a small school, we have a robust extracurricular program, since I know that’s what keeps students in school.”
Bariteau beat out close to 30 applicants vying for the position. Silver said Bariteau rose to the top of the list of candidates for many reasons, including her 30 years of experience.
“I lived in this area for 20 years, and I know it quite well,” Bariteau said. “I’ve gotten to know everyone in the community, especially since my kids went through the system. I can’t say enough how special this community is.”
Menchaca, 38, is a
kindergarten-through-fifth-grade principal in the Central Valley town of Salida, near Modesto. His wife is also a teacher, and they have two daughters, one each in the second and fourth grades.
He will take the helm at Brook Knoll after experiences as a teacher, assistant principal and principal working in alternative programs, homeless programs, a charter school, a middle school and an elementary school.
“My goal for Brook Knoll is to maintain the integrity of the programs with a limited budget and try and work it out to keep it up,” Menchaca said.
The district received 56 applications for the Brook Knoll position, Silver said.
Menchaca said he is excited to move nearer to the beach and looks forward to building roots in the community.
“I met all the teachers and some of the students, and I’m excited to move. I’ve always wanted to live near the coast,” he said.
Menchaca and Bariteau will take their new posts in July.
