Transitions
September 4, 2023
Brentwood Union School District is proud to announce multiple administrators who are taking new positions this year.
Diane Deshler is the new Chief Business Official. Deshler was the past CBO in Lafayette and Martinez and is the immediate Past President of CASBO. She is also a trained French pastry chef who worked at Chez Panisse and was the executive chef at Lucasfilm, so BUSD is excited to hold our first district office potluck.
Justine Melendez is the new Special Education Director. Melendez was previously the coordinator of the Contra Costa County SELPA. She has been a general education teacher, special day class teacher, resource specialist and program specialist prior to her adminstrative roles.
Karen Gnusti is the new Principal of Harvest Grove Virtual Academy and Alternative Education. Gnusti was previously the Executive Director of College, Career and Secondary Education at the San Mateo County Office of Education. Previously she has been a Director of Career Technical Education and a K-8 principal in Pacifica.
Danielle Daubin has been hired as the principal who will open the district’s brand new elementary school in 2024-25. She was previously a coordinator for the Teachers College of San Joaquin Administrative Credential Program and a K-8 principal. She will be supporting two schools for the first half of the year and transitioning to the new school full-time in January.
In an effort to bring more consistent support for students, staff and parents to each school site this year, the district brought back full-time vice principals at every elementary school. BUSD is excited to welcome Patty Schneider, Melissa Warner, Brie Hague, Matthew Jensen, Angela Mullen, Tiffany Ward and Julie France to these critical positions.
ACSA congratulates Jan Billings, Ed.D., upon her retirement as ACSA Region 17 Executive Director at the end of the 2022-23 school year. For 20 years, Billings has contributed to the success of ACSA and its members through her leadership of ACSA Region 17.
Upon her retirement as Superintendent of Anaheim Union High School District in 2003, Billings was approached by Tracy Gaffey and the Region 17 Board and asked if she would consider succeeding him in the role of Region 17 Executive Director.
“It was one of the best professional decisions of my life,” said Billings, in a column she penned for Region 17’s spring newsletter. “These twenty years have been a gift of getting to know and admire the many outstanding administrators in Orange County. As I often remind them, they are the best educated, most dedicated and caring leaders anywhere! ... I have seen, firsthand, the true courage, tenacity, patience and understanding, most notably, during the last few historically challenging years. And I could not be prouder to have been in their midst!”
In retirement, Billings looks forward to spending more time with her family, volunteering and exploring the state.
Billings will be succeeded by Carol Hansen, Ed.D., who recently retired as superintendent of the Ocean View School District. As Region 17 Executive Director, Hansen will help lead the Region 17 team into the future.
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