FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               

Contact:  Bettylu Smith                                                                                    

Sequoia Union High School District                                                                                    (650) 369-1411, ext. 2361 

SEQUOIA DISTRICT NAMES PRINCIPALS AT CARLMONT, SEQUOIA HIGH SCHOOLS REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 22, 2009 - Superintendent Pat Gemma announced this evening that the Sequoia Union School District Board of Trustees has approved the appointments of two new principals, effective July 1, 2009.            

Bonnie Hansen, currently instructional vice principal at Sequoia High School, Redwood City, has been tapped to succeed Morgan Marchbanks, who is stepping down after nine years to focus full time on doctorate studies at the University of California, Berkeley.           

Raul Zamora, currently principal at Miramonte High School, Lafayette, and formerly administrative vice principal at Carlmont High School, Belmont, has been recruited to succeed Andrea Jenoff, who is retiring as principal of Carlmont after ten years at the helm.           

"We opened up recruitment nationally for both of these principalships, and the recruitment and hiring process was extensive and involved representation of all of the school's key constituencies" said Gemma.             

"Both of these schools have undergone significant positive change over the past decade and we want to see the continuation of the upward trajectory at Carlmont and Sequoia.  We are pleased that we were able to recruit two individuals with experience as part of the positive change that has occurred at the schools," Gemma continued.           

Gemma says that the recruitments drew interest from a pool of highly qualified candidates and that he is "pleased the two outstanding educational leaders who were selected accepted the posts.           

"Both Bonnie and Raul are strong student advocates and effective leaders who will retain and develop the outstanding programs and initiatives that have been put in place over the past 10 years, such as the biotechnology, medical magnet, and fine and performing arts programs at Carlmont, and the International Baccalaureate program and personalized learning communities at Sequoia.             

"We are confident the two new principals will capably build on the recent records of success at both schools," he added.  "Both Bonnie and Raul are also deeply committed to the Sequoia district's goals that focus on student achievement, a robust career-technical education program and other priority goals that will help to engage and prepare students to excel in a global, 21st century society."           

Hansen started in the Sequoia district as an English teacher at Menlo-Atherton High School, Atherton, in 1995, and she has been in her current role at Sequoia High School for five years.  She has a master's degree in education from UC-Berkeley and a teaching credential from UC-Davis.  She is nationally board certified in English.           

Zamora has served as principal at Miramonte in the Acalanes Union High School District in the East Bay since 2006, and, immediately prior, served as administrative vice principal at Carlmont for four years.  He started his educational career as a high school music teacher in Anderson, Calif.  Zamora has a masters in music education from the University of Illinois and will complete his doctorate in organizational leadership in July. Established in 1895, Sequoia Union High School District serves the diverse needs of students in the San Francisco Mid-Peninsula region through four award-winning, comprehensive public high schools as well as a model continuation high school, a middle college (in collaboration with Cañada College) and an adult school.  Through its robust portfolio of schools and specialized programs and services, state-of-the-art facilities and technology, and highly qualified teachers and staff, the District is committed to ensuring that all students are engaged and prepared to excel in a 21st century global society.  For more information, visit www.seq.org. ###