WALNUT, CA—This summer, the Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees approved the following outstanding appointments to the administrative team: Kenneth Goodson – Assistant Superintendent of Business Services; Dr. Sergio Canal, Administrative Director of Human Resources; Frances Weissenberger – Principal, Quail Summit Elementary; Jeannette Schaller – Assistant Principal, South Pointe Middle School; Nicole Cabase – Instructional Dean, Diamond Bar High; and Nelson Chen – Instructional Dean, Walnut High.
Kenneth Goodson was unanimously approved as assistant superintendent of business services. Goodson has served as interim assistant superintendent for the past six months where his visionary work helped the District address the deficit within the state budget and provided oversight and leadership of bond measure funds.
Prior to that, Goodson served as the WVUSD director of technology for the past five years. Under his leadership, the division and school district experienced unmatched growth and effectiveness in Instructional Technology (IT) at all 15 schools with 16,000 users. Before to coming to public education, he worked as the IT operations manager at SCAN Health Plan for eight years and as a technology specialist and computer scientist for the Department of Defense for 14 years.
Goodson earned a bachelor of science degree at National University and masters of arts degree from Azusa Pacific University. He also competed the ACSA School Business Academy. He and his wife Wendy live in Chino Hills.
“My primary goal as Chief Business Officer (CBO) is to foster the winning culture in Walnut Valley USD by being mindful of the budget along with keeping projects within scope and time,” Goodson said.
Twenty-year education veteran Dr. Sergio Canal was re-designated as administrative director of human resources on July 19. He has served as director of human resources in Walnut Valley since 2015.
Dr. Canal has a wonderful ability manage the division, exceling at contract management, working closely with employees, and forming strong relationships with both employee associations. Prior to that, Dr. Canal served as director of educational services, overseeing pupil services and secondary education. He has been a principal, assistant principal, and teacher in elementary, middle and high school levels.
Dr. Canal earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, master’s degree in Educational Leadership from California State University, Los Angeles, and doctoral degree from University of Southern California. He and his wife Alma reside in Arcadia.
“I am thankful for the vote of confidence from our Board, Superintendent, and Employee Associations. It’s a blessing to work for a District that puts Kids First,” he said.
Walnut Valley welcomed 30-year veteran educator Frances Weissenberger to take the helm as Quail Summit Elementary School’s new leader. For the past eight years, the highly-accomplished educator served as principal at Hamilton Elementary School in the Pasadena Unified School District. Before that, she was an elementary literacy specialist, elementary literacy content expert, and literacy coach in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Additionally, Weissenberger trained teachers at Professional Development Reading Institutes through the Sacramento County Office of Education and was a BTSA cohort facilitator in LAUSD. She has been a trainer in numerous professional development areas including Literacy Pedagogy for K-6, Thinking Maps Trainer of Trainers, and has taught all K-6 grades.
Weissenberger won numerous awards including the 2015 ACSA Administrative Charter Leadership Award, ACSA Administrator of the Year, and Pasadena Elementary Administrator of the Year. She received her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles and master’s degree from California State University, Northridge. In addition, Weissenberger holds a reading and language arts specialist credential for grades K-12. She is married with three children and resides in Covina.
“I am looking forward to working with the Quail Summit family. It is a remarkable school and I am honored to have been selected to lead Quail Summit to their next level of success,” she said. Weissenberger succeeds Jeanette Koh who was named director of educational services in May.
With over a decade of educational experience, Jeannette Schaller was approved assistant principal at South Pointe Middle School. She has served as a social studies teacher at the Diamond Bar campus since 2012.
Prior to that she was part of the Teach for America program and taught and co-coordinated an AVID program at Robert Lewis Stevenson Middle School in East Los Angeles for six years.
In addition, Schaller has excelled in numerous leadership roles including National Schools to Watch conference presenter, school site council president, Caishi teacher exchange, leadership development seminar, and most recently coordinator of the school’s STEAM summer school program.
Schaller received bachelor of arts degrees in history and political science from University of Oregon and master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University. She resides in Los Angeles.
"I am so honored to continue my journey at South Pointe Middle School and support student achievement in this leadership role, Schaller said. She succeeds Jean Chung who retired in May with over 30 years of dedicated service in Walnut Valley USD.
Diamond Bar High School science teacher Nicole Cabase was approved as an instructional dean. She brings 11 years of experience in education to her new post and has served at DBHS for the past decade.
Last year, the advanced placement biology and honors biology instructor served as the interim Pathways Communications Academy grade level coordinator. During the 2015-16 school year, she served as interim instructional dean for math and science.
She was also interim science department chair, WASC focus group leader, and mock trial team assistant coach. Cabase holds a bachelor of arts degree from California Polytechnic University, master’s degree from Chapman University, and master’s degree in counseling from University of California, Redlands.
“I am honored for this opportunity to continue guiding students through their journey at Diamond Bar High School, she said.
Walnut High School Career Technical Education (CTE) teacher and former certified athletic trainer Nelson Chen was approved as an instructional dean. Over the past decade, the passionate instructor co-wrote three new curriculums to enhance the school’s Sports Medicine Pathway.
He was promoted to a lead position to help support other East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupation Program (ROP) teachers. Chen has established articulation agreements with Mt. SAC’s Health Science-Kinesiology Department and collaborated to introduce a live “Medical Careers” webinar to the community.
Chen earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and master’s degree in athletic training from University of Hawaii, Manoa.
"This is a dream come true for me and I can't wait to begin working with our amazing staff,” he said.
Shown:
Kenneth (Kenny) Goodson has been appointed assistant superintendent of business services.
Dr. Sergio Canal has been promoted to administrative director of human resources.
Frances Weissenberger has been named the new principal of Quail Summit Elementary School.
Jeanette Schaller has been selected as the new assistant principal at South Pointe Middle School.
Nicole Cabase has been approved as instructional dean at Diamond Bar High School.
Nelson Chen has been named instructional dean at Walnut High School.