Doty attends her last DUSD board meeting

DOWNEY - An emotional Dr. Wendy Doty thanked the board, DUSD principals, teachers and staff, the whole student population, and all concerned for making her 10-year tenure as superintendent "memorable and special." Doty is stepping down as superintendent effective March 31, and is being replaced by Dr. John Garcia. Tuesday was her last attendance at the board meetings.

Garcia will commence his duties in her place at the helm of DUSD on March 18. The overlap is for orientation purposes.

An outpouring of praise and gratitude drenched Doty in her last hours in the district spotlight, as, first, members of the board spoke hailing her many "exemplary" contributions, then representatives of government officials and other associates added layers of hallelujahs on her head.

The replacement for the departing Brown-educated Kevin Condon, heretofore assistant superintendent for business services, was meanwhile introduced.

She is Nancy C. Nien, who holds a BA in political science from UC-Berkeley, an Ed.M. in education administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University, and an M.Phil. in comparative education and economics and a Ph.D. in the same areas from Columbia University. She has worked at the World Bank and at the U.S. Dept. of Education in Washington, D.C., and most recently was assistant superintendent of business services for 12 years for the Duarte Unified School District prior to serving briefly as assistant superintendent of business and administrative services for the Centralia School District.

She assumes her new duties on April 15.

Meanwhile, the board heard John Harris, principal at Warren High School, present the Link Crew leadership team with the Superintendent's Vision Award in the area of culture.

Describing 'Link Crew' as a high school transition program that welcomes freshmen and makes them feel "connected" throughout the first year of their high school experience, Harris said the program trains mentors from the junior and senior classes to be Link Leaders.

As positive role models, these Link Crew leaders assume the roles of student mentors who guide the freshmen to "discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school" in their 9th grade year.

It's a program that has worked wonders, Harris said. Present to receive recognition for their useful roles were Alison Davis, Daniela Keeler, Deanna Mack and Justin Muller.

Also recognized was Kaiser Permanente for its substantive contributions in the area of Parent/Community Relations.

********** Published: March 14, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 48