panthers say farewell to two administrators
On March 1, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) announced leadership transitions that will be occurring at the end of the 2016-17 school year. Among the list of retirees is Peninsula’s current principal, Mitzi Cress. Cress described the rewards of being principal and how it has impacted her outlook of not only the school, but of students in it as well.
“Every single day that I have been given the privilege to come to this school to humbly serve as the principal [is my favorite memory],” Cress said. “[I am able to] watch the things you do, talk to a new student, help somebody or learn something. Every day has been a great day, so all the moments are all equal right up to June 30, 2017. It is going to be as grand of a day as the first day that I became principal.”
Cress described how she always comes to school excited for a new challenge to face. She continued to say that the students have taught her so much during the time she has been principal. Cress also understands that the students’ opinions should be considered when making changes to Peninsula’s campus.
In addition, Associate Principal Micah Farrell will return to Rancho del Mar High School this time as principal. Farrell shared what he will miss most about his job at Peninsula throughout the past four years he has worked here.
“I enjoyed daily interactions with students the most,” Farrell said. “[I was able to] see students achieve unbelievable feats and accomplishments athletically, academically, personally and socially.”
Farrell will be transitioning from working with a large student body to a smaller group. When he transfers to Rancho Del Mar, he wants to help students with their academic load and hopes that all students attending will be proud to go there.
Former Ridgecrest Intermediate School principal and current principal of Miraleste Intermediate School Brent Kuykendall will be taking over Cress’s position starting in the 2017-18 school year. He looks forward to his transition from the principal of a middle school to high school in PVPUSD.
“I have some [experience] at the high school level and I think it is important to say I am looking forward to reconnecting with the students I have known from past jobs,” Kuykendall said. “There are also a number of staff [members] at Peninsula whom I have worked with or known over the years whom I am looking forward to be working closely with to continue to support a school that is already amazing.”
