August 5, 2024

Lynzie Brodhun, Director, PK-8 Educational Services. Brodhun recently served as the principal at Thomas Page Academy and she began her career in education at San Jose Middle School. Dawn Mawhinney, Director, Special Education. Mawhinney recently served as the Director of Educational Services at Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Assistant Principal at Rancho Cotate High School and principal at Evergreen Elementary School.

Andy Boone, Principal, San Marin High School. Boone has served as Assistant Principal at Novato High School and Principal at Hall Middle School. He also founded and operated two health and wellness businesses providing functional health and nutrition services to families across Marin County.

Ellie Marsh, Principal, Sinaloa Middle School. Marsh’s previous experience includes Co-Principal at San Pedro Elementary School, Principal at the International Community School, and Vice Principal at Piedmont Elementary School. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Bryan Clement, Principal, Hamilton TK-8 School. Clement served as Assistant Principal at Hamilton TK-8 School, Principal at Saint Hilary School and Director of Advancement at Marin Catholic High School. He has also worked as an education consultant collaborating with educators to enhance their practices in social-emotional learning.

Karen Freemantle, Principal, Lu Sutton Elementary School. Freemantle has served as the Coordinator for Curriculum and Instruction and a Teacher on Special Assignment for the Novato Unified School District. She also taught first and fourth grade at Rancho Elementary School.

Allie McMorrow, Assistant Principal, Hamilton TK-8 School. McMorrow has served as a Data Teacher on Special Assignment and a first and third grade teacher at Loma Verde Elementary School.

Tanya Pearson, Coordinator, English Learner Program. Pearson recently served as Assistant Principal at Cesar Chavez Language Academy. Her prior experience includes Principal at St. Helena Elementary School and Assistant Principal at Del Mar Middle School. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Karen Perry-Erdman, Special Education Elementary Coordinator. Perry-Erdman recently served as Vice Principal and Director of Student Services at Sebastopol Independent Charter School. Prior experience includes Director of Special Education at Credo High School.

Kelly Hourigan, Special Education Program Coordinator. Hourigan previously served as a Special Education Program Manager at San Rafael City Schools and as a school psychologist at the Novato Unified School District.

Alysse McDaniel, Coordinator, Early Intervention Preschool. McDaniel previously served as a teacher in the Early Intervention Preschool at Novato Unified School District.

The Walnut Valley USD Board of Trustees appointed three administrative leaders to restructure the Executive Cabinet during the June 12 meeting.

Education leader Matthew Torres has been approved as Deputy Superintendent of Business Services. With 27 years of extensive experience as a leader in Business Services in two different districts and his prior experience as a classroom teacher, Torres is well-equipped to influence all areas of the organization in his new role. Since 2018, he has served in Walnut Valley as assistant superintendent of Business Services. Prior to that, he successfully led the team in Fruitvale School District in Kern County for 13 years as assistant superintendent of business services and a director in the educational services division. Torres has also served as adjunct professor in a variety of areas in fiscal analysis at California State University, Fresno, California State University, Bakersfield, and Point Loma Nazarene University. Prior to joining the Fiscal Division, he was an elementary teacher for eight years. Torres holds a bachelor of arts from Pepperdine University, master’s degree in education leadership from University of La Verne, doctoral degree in educational leadership at University of Southern California, and is a certified chief business official from the California Association of School Business Officials.

Jeanette Koh brings 32 years of experience to her new post as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. Koh has dedicated more than 28 years to Walnut Valley in various capacities, including elementary teacher, middle school assistant principal, elementary school principal, and most recently, executive director of educational services. Additionally, she has been instrumental in leading certified Project GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) training across the K-12 district. She earned the profession’s highest mark of achievement as a National Board Certified Teacher and has developed curriculum for the Orange County Department of Education. Koh earned a bachelor’s degree in English from University of California Los Angeles, master’s degree in Education from Claremont Graduate University and doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from University of La Verne.

Veteran educator Matthew Witmer brings 28 years of experience to the new position of Chief Operating Officer of the district. Witmer has served in Walnut Valley for nearly 11 years in various roles including deputy superintendent of human resources and deputy superintendent of educational services. Prior to that, he served as director of educational services in the Corona-Norco Unified School District. Additionally, Witmer is an adjunct professor of educational leadership at the UC Irvine Extension, and Azusa Pacific University. Prior to that, he worked as an associate professor, director, interim program director, principal, assistant principal, and teacher. Witmer received a bachelor’s degree from Vanguard University, and a master’s degree and doctoral degree in educational leadership from Azusa Pacific University.