Bruce Polay is the Arcadia High School orchestra conductor and the district's representative to the elementary schools for their part in the instrumental program. Biographical notes included.
Arthur Farr, 46, the band and orchestra leader at Dana Junior High School, has been named the Arcadia Unified School District's 1990 Teacher of the Year. Farr has been teaching band and orchestra at Dana for 23 years, as well as coaching the basketball team and teaching physical education. (NOTE: This article incorrectly identified him as "Allen", but the error was corrected in the issue of October 1.)
John Costanzo, 35, who teaches students with learning disabilities at Foothills Jr. High School, has been named the state's Teacher of the Year by the Learning Disabilities Association of California. Photo.
Kent Barney was recently named Shakespeare Teacher of the year as part of the Rotary Club's celebration of Shakespeare week. Mr. Barney states the many rewards of teaching, especially that of Shakespeare.
Edward L. Feldhaus Jr., Foothills Junior High School teacher, has been named Arcadia Unified School District's nominee to the Los Angeles County "Teacher of the Year" recognition program.
Charlotte Cowan, now in her 23rd year of teaching at Longley Way School, was selected to receive the Outstanding Teacher Award. Biographical notes included.
The prospect of a strike by Arcadia teachers looms large, after negotiations between school district and teachers' associations officials broke off Wednesday, August 15. The negotiations ended after the 2 parties failed to reach a settlement on their year-long salary dispute. No new talks have been scheduled.
Louis Pappas, First Avenue Junior High School history teacher, has been appointed assistant principal at Foothills Junior High School. Pappas will succeed Dr. Donald Smith who is retiring January 28.
The School Board has approved the appointment of the district's first group of mentor teachers. The 14 teachers, classroom veterans who lend their expertise to new and less experienced teachers, are named.
Arcadia Unified School District superintendent David Vannasdall will be paid $205,000 annually, agreed to for a 3-year contract. Vannasdall, 45, was named the district's new chief after Joel Shawn retired. Vannasdall had been deputy superintendent and previously principal of Arcadia High School from 2005 through 2012. His car allowance is $850/month, $150/month for expenses, and a $1,000 annual salary increase if he completes his doctorate degree.
A former Arcadia High School teacher challenged in small claims court the new contract between Arcadia instructors and the school district, maintaining the contract is unfair to individuals who retired just before the start of the current school year.
New school principals have been appointed by the Arcadia Unified School District. Susan MacNab will succeed Paul Mundy at Hugo Reid; William Robertson will succeed Charles Jarboe at Camino Grove; John Bogut at Arcadia Continuation succeeding John Simmons; Mark Vetter, English teacher at Arcadia High School, has been appointed assistant principal, Curriculum and Guidance at the high school.
Leonard Rodriguez, executive vice principal at St. Francis School in La Canada-Flintridge, has been named Assistant Principal of First Avenue Junior High School.
Isabelle Stires is retiring after 19 years in the Arcadia Unified School District. This past year Mrs. Stires has been teaching second grade at Camino Grove School. Before that she taught second and third graded at Bonita Park School. She and her husband plan to travel.