New Principal for Aptos Junior High • Cabrillo College Welcomes Assistant Superintendent Paul De La Cerda

COMMUNITY NEWS New Principal for Aptos Junior High

On June 23, the Board of Trustees of Pajaro Valley Unified School District approved the appointments of Consuelo Mason as principal of Pajaro Valley High School, Dr. Michael Mansfield as principal of Aptos Junior High School, Samantha Legoretta as academic coordinator of Watsonville Charter School of the Arts, and Lisa Sandoval as director of Child Development Department.

Mansfield, who recently completed his doctorate in education at San Jose State University, has been an assistant principal at Watsonville High School since 2016. He was a classroom teacher from 2011-2014.

He obtained both his bachelor’s and masters from UC Santa Cruz along with social science credential. He earned his administrative credential was earned through the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Mason is a product of PVUSD, beginning in kindergarten and graduating from Watsonville High School. She taught Michael Mansfield Consuelo Mason Samantha Legoretta Lisa Sandoval

English Language Arts at Rolling Hills, then social science at Pajaro Valley High School when it opened its doors.

She became an English language specialist and then assistant principal in 2015. Mason earned a bachelor’s in Social Science from UCSC and got a social science teaching credential and master’s from San Jose State University.

Sandoval started in 2003 as a teacher and then became a childhood development coordinator.

She attended Cabrillo College, then earned a bachelor’s in liberal studies and her teaching credential at CSU Monterey Bay. She got a master’s and an administrative credential from San Jose State University.

Legoretta has nine years’ experience as a middle school and elementary teacher and most recently as vice principal at El Gabilan Elementary School. She began her teaching career at PVUSD.

She obtained a bachelor’s in history from CSU Fresno and a master’s in history from San Jose State University. She earned ma ultiple subject teaching credential at CSU Monterey Bay. She obtained her administrative credential from the Santa Clara County Office of Education, Leaders in Educational Administration Program. n

Cabrillo College Welcomes Assistant Superintendent Paul De La Cerda

Dr. Paul Nelson De La Cerda is Cabrillo College’s new assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction, succeeding Dr. Kathleen Welch, a Cabrillo nursing alum who retired after 21 years.

He is the second Latinx in this role. The first was Dr. Ernesto Martinez in the early 1980s.

“I am grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received at Cabrillo, and especially for the two weeks of transition time with Kathie,” he said. “Having a retiring leader stay to transition their successor is not common practice, and it speaks volumes about the dedication of Cabrillo College leadership and their care for the College and student success. I look forward to getting to know additional members of both the Cabrillo and the Santa Cruz County community.”

He has been dean of instruction and advancement at East Los Angeles College; dean of academic affairs and corporate partnerships at LA Southwest College; classified director of the Small Business Development Center at College of the Canyons; and project director of National Science Foundation Minority Student Support Programs at Oklahoma State University.

He has developed and implemented race conscious-equity focused instruction, student services, and programs to increase student access and inclusion, student outreach, and student personal development.

He has taught in community colleges online and on campus in math, science, business, leadership development, and entrepreneurship. Before his post-secondary career, Dr. De La Cerda worked in the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors developing partnerships to help underserved communities.

He has overseen various multimillion Federal and State funded grant programs and endowments and his portfolio includes building K-18 partnerships, leading equity and inclusion programs, and oversight of personnel, consultants, operations, and program infrastructure.

“I am excited to have Paul join our leadership team, and value both the broad California Community College leadership experience he brings, and his deep commitment to equity and social justice,” said Dr. Matthew Wetstein, president and superintendent, Cabrillo College.

A California native, Dr. De La Cerda began his college career at College of the Canyons. He earned a bachelor of science in engineering and master’s in business administration at Oklahoma State University, where he was an AllAmerican student athlete, running cross country.

He is a distinguished leadership fellow of the American Association of Community Colleges’ National Community College Hispanic Council and serves as the Western Regional Chair. He possesses an Executive Leadership Certificate from Darden at University of Virginia and received his doctorate in organizational change and educational leadership from the University of Southern California.

His family is committed to education, engaged with many community organizations, and loves to travel. n

Dr. Paul Nelson De La Cerda