Downey Unified announces new principals for 2018-19

Downey Unified appointed two new elementary school principals as well as new director of Secondary Education and a new administrator of Instructional Support Services. 

Alyda Mir (left) will be the new the director of Secondary Education and Darryl Browning (middle) will be the new principal at Stauffer Middle School. Cary Calvo (right) is the new principal at William Elementary. 

Not pictured is Terri Medina, who joined the Instructional Support Services team at the district office. 

DOWNEY – The Downey Unified Board of Education would like to proudly announce the appointment of two new principals as well as a new director of Secondary Education and a new administrator of Instructional Support Services. 

Over the summer, Downey Unified appointed two members of the Downey Unified family who are transitioning from school sites to the district office. 

Alyda Mir has taken the role as Director of Secondary Education and Terri Medina has joined the Instructional Support Services team. 

Also approved over the summer, Darryl Browning and Cary Calvo will embark on their respective journeys as principals for the upcoming 2018-19 school year at Stauffer Middle and Williams Elementary schools. 

Filling the director position vacancy created after the retirement of long-time administrator Phil Davis, Alyda Mir will be transitioning from principal of Stauffer Middle School to the director of Secondary Education.  

An employee of Downey Unified since 1998, where she started her career as a teacher at Carpenter Elementary School, Mir has served as the principal at Stauffer Middle School since 2011. 

Also transitioning to the district office to assist in the efforts of increasing student enrollment, Terri Medina will be leaving Williams Elementary School to join the Instructional Support Services team.

As a product of Downey Unified, attending Gallatin Elementary School and graduating from Warren High School, Darryl Browning joined the district as a teacher at Sussman Middle School in 2001. 

In 2010, Browning transitioned into the position as vice principal at Sussman, then moved on to the high school level in 2014 where he became an assistant principal at Warren High School.  
Staying in this position until receiving the role of principal at Stauffer, Browning oversaw the instruction and facilities for Warren High and has a vast knowledge of student and staff support. 

Growing up around the corner from Downey Unified, Cary Calvo is a graduate of South Gate High School and has been a member of the Downey Unified family since 1990. 

Beginning her career as a teacher at Imperial Elementary School, Calvo stayed in this capacity until being appointed as vice principal of Gauldin Elementary School in 2014. She then split her time as vice principals at various elementary schools over the years. 

Calvo will be saying farewell to Lewis Elementary School as she moves in to the principal position at Williams Elementary School.