by Timothy Rutt
Lorena Martinez was named this week as the new principal for Eliot MIddle School, according to a press release from the Pasadena Unified School District.
Martinez most recently was principal of Grapevine Elementary School in the Vista Unified School District in San Diego County. Prior to that, she was an assistant principal at Apollo Middle School in Tucson, Ariz., and served as a classroom teacher in California and Arizona.
According to the press release:
Martinez comes from comes to PUSD with outstanding credentials during her career as a lifelong educator. She has proven experience at the elementary and middle school level. Schools under her leadership have shown improvement in academic achievement and parent engagement as well as implementing programs that have demonstrated progress in student behavior and attendance. She ensures that parents play a pivotal role in participating with their child’s education. She demonstrates sensitivity when interacting with people of diverse cultural, socio-economic, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, Ms. Martinez is experienced in developing effective external outreach for building relationships with the community and nonprofit organizations.
“I am humbled to be selected as the new principal of Eliot Middle School and thrilled to be joining PUSD and the Eliot Middle School family,” said Ms. Martinez in the release. “Eliot is a school with a great history and tremendous potential. I am committed to providing the Pasadena and Altadena communities with a quality education.”
The press release also quoted Eliot PTA President Gwendolyn Logan as saying, “All of the Eliot parents are looking forward to working with Lorena ... She had great energy and ideas during the interview. We think she will be a great fit for our school.”
Martinez succeeds Peter Pannell as Eliot's principal.
