Top 30 Influential Principals in the state of California
Principal Mitzi Cress was recently named one of the “Top 30 Most Influential California High School Principals” in a list released by Mometrix Test Preparation. Mometrix ranked the principals based upon the number of points received from national and state awards, rankings, average SAT scores and college readiness. Peninsula has received many recognitions under Cress’ leadership, including the “5th Best Public High School in California” on Niche’s 2015 list and the California Gold Ribbon Schools award that same year from the California Department of Education.
Rising to this title was not a short journey for Cress. After graduating in 1971 from Rolling Hills High School, the predecessor to Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (PVPHS), she became a teacher in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). Soon after, she became a counselor in the same district. She then took a 15-year break to raise her children, but realized she wanted to return to counseling.
“I noticed that I really enjoyed working with small groups, so I became a counselor,” Cress said. “I felt prepared because I was very involved with my students. I felt like I really understood the high school age.”
After returning to counseling, she worked at LBUSD for a year until a friend from Peninsula informed her that there was a job opening. She decided to apply, and got the job as a counselor in 1995. Two years later, she became the head counselor. In 2009, Kelly Johnson, the principal of Peninsula at that time, wanted Cress to take on principalship. She initially refused, due to her passion for counseling. However, after a year of Johnson’s persistent requests, she finally agreed. In 2010, she became the principal. The 2016-17 school year will mark her seventh year as the principal of Peninsula.
“[Cress] had the same values that I did. She grasped the importance of why we were there, which was to serve kids,” Johnson said. “That is why I wanted her to be the principal. She has done a wonderful job, and is by far the brightest principal to serve at Peninsula.”
Jim Maechling, a former teacher of Cress, is proud of her for coming this far and thinks that her success should inspire students to work hard. Maechling believes that, just like Cress, there are millions of gifted people all over the world ready to step up and be agents of change. He has as much affection for his students now as he did back then with Cress and her classmates.
“It does not surprise me [that Cress became principal],” Maechling said. “She was a leader, an organizer, totally engaged in every project. My pride in her is something similar to the pride I feel for this school. Just considering the students on our campus right now gives me a positive feeling about the future. It puts a big smile on an old guy’s face.”
