SOUTH WHITTIER – South Whittier School District’s newest principal, Kristine Carreon, has been leading the Loma Vista campus since the beginning of the school year, engaging parents and strengthening the school’s programs. But she is also hard at work laying out plans to integrate new technology into classroom instruction.
 
“It is with much excitement that I welcome the opportunity to build relationships with the Loma Vista family and set a strong academic foundation that will prepare our students for the futures,” Carreon said. “I’m excited to introduce new programs to the school, build upon the District’s great initiatives and keep engaging our parents in their children’s education.”
 
Carreon takes the helm at Loma Vista following an 18-year career at Wild Rose Elementary School in the Monrovia Unified School District. There, Carreon was a long-time teacher before pursuing leadership roles as a program adviser/specialist and intervention coordinator.
 
As program adviser and specialist for two years, Carreon coordinated interventions and facilitated bilingual parent engagement programs like the Latino Family Literacy Project.
 
During her term as intervention coordinator, Carreon organized a schoolwide intervention program called Power Hour, which assessed and placed students into small, focused reading groups based on reading level. The program, which monitored and tested student progress every six weeks, earned the 2016 California Gold Ribbon Award from the California Department of Education.
 
Carreon hopes to create greater intervention programs for Loma Vista students who may be struggling academically, as well as form an afterschool robotics club to provide students enriching technology opportunities. She said the school aims to provide dynamic, technology-driven instruction and is working to acquire the necessary tools to jumpstart the program.
 
Carreon earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, administrative credential and master’s degree in educational leadership from Cal Poly Pomona.
 
“Kristine Carreon is a remarkable addition to our District and brings with her an impressive instructional background,” Superintendent Gail Baxter said. “She is focused on what is best for the children, is compassionate and approachable to parents, and fits very well into our District’s collaborative model. We are truly thrilled to have her expertise and exemplary leadership at Loma Vista Elementary.”