On Friday, March 15, Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District Superintendent Ron McCowan announced to district employees the hiring of Valerie Wollenberg as new principal of Valley Center Elementary School.
She will begin the new role in July of this year.
"I am honored to be the new principal at Valley Center Elementary School," Wollenberg said. "I was born and raised in San Diego and grew up living in the Bonita area. San Diego has always been my home as I have strong family support and roots here.
"I am excited to take on this new role and work towards continuing the culture of excellence, achievement, and positivity."
Wollenberg has been instructional coach in the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District since 2022.
"Valerie is an experienced educator who has been working in our District for the past two years as a teacher on special assignment," McCowan said. "She has proven to be a hard worker who brings a high level of energy to her work. I look forward to working with her as a site administrator."
In her special assignment role, she has been working alongside teachers and administrators.
"As an instructional coach and SSP coordinator, I collaborated with all of our staff members in order to best support our students in their academics, behaviors, and social-emotional development," she said.
Wollenberg received her Bachelor’s degree with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at California State University, Long Beach, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership with an Administrative Credential.
"I want to thank Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District for embracing me as I look forward to this new opportunity!" she said.
Wollenberg and her husband, Alex, love spending time outdoors hiking and camping with their dog, Gizmo.