AUSD Deputy Superintendent Gets Top Job with Tahoe Truckee District

Dr. Rob Leri, deputy superintendent of the , will take the helm of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District this summer. Superintendent Joel Shawn promoted Arcadia High School Principal David Vannasdall to fill Leri's position, effective March 1.

In an e-mail announcing the change to staff, Shawn said Vannasdall will remain the acting principal of AHS until the end of the school year. District officials hope to hire Vannasdall's replacement by May 1, Shawn said, and the new principal will start the job July 1.

Tahoe Truckee officials welcomed Leri in a public statement on the district's Web site.

“Qualities such as ‘a good boss and person,’ ‘someone who can get things done and drives improvement,’ and ‘bilingual or culturally sensitive’ were traits that rose to the top,” said Kim Szczurek, president of the TTUSD school board. “We also heard the message that the community wants someone who is in it for the long haul."

"When the board researched Dr. Leri’s history, it was clear that he matched each of these descriptors,” Szczurek added.

Leri's exit, coupled with the Jan. 10 retirement of Food Services Director Debra Amos, prompted a number of staffing changes in the Arcadia district. Camino Grove Elementary School Principal Brook Reynolds will take over for Amos as the interim director of food services, operations, and transportation.

Danae Popovich, teacher on special assignment, has stepped in as Camino Groves' interim principal.

Shawn said these assignments will remain in place until June 30, when the district will reassess the structure and supervision of these and the Maintenance departments.

The district has also had a vacant Director of Facilities, Operations, Transportation, and Maintenance position for more than a year. Assistant Superintendent of Business Christina Aragon has been supervising these departments.

"I feel very fortunate that we have the talent among our current staff to fill these positions and provide the leadership and support needed and expected by our community and staff," Shawn wrote.