SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Both new and familiar faces will step into leadership positions throughout Bonita Unified School District ahead of the 2023-24 school year, bringing years of experience and dedication to supporting academic excellence and fostering equity in education.

Sean Casey will lead Chaparral-Vista High School as their principal, Nikole Burgess will serve as an assistant principal at Bonita High School, Kendra Lewis will join Chaparral-Vista High School as its new dean of student services and Dr. Kim Lawe will join the District as the new Senior Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction.

Casey, who has served as the dean of Chaparral-Vista High School for the past two years, brings many years of experience as a teacher and administrator to his new position. He earned his Bachelor of Science in workforce education and development at the University of Southern Illinois and earned his Master of Arts in education from the University of Phoenix. Prior to becoming an educator, Casey served in the U.S. Army for six years.

Burgess, a Bonita Unified alumna and the parent of a future Ramona Middle School student, comes to the District with more than a decade of experience in education. She previously served as an assistant principal as South Hills High School and as a middle school teacher in Monrovia Unified School District. Burgess obtained her Bachelor of Arts in history at California State University, Fullerton and earned her Master of Arts in educational leadership at the University of La Verne.

Lewis comes to Bonita Unified after serving as a math teacher and teacher leader in Covina-Valley Unified School District. She has 12 years of experience as a secondary school teacher and has served in a variety of departmental leadership roles. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in math from Claremont McKenna College and a Master of Arts in education from Claremont Graduate University, as well as an administrative credential from Azusa Pacific University.

Lawe brings 24 years of experience as a teacher and administrator to her new position in the Educational Services Department. She most recently served as a director at the Riverside County Office of Education and an adjunct professor in the School of Education at Azusa Pacific University. Lawe received her Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction at Cal Poly Pomona and earned her doctorate in education at Azusa Pacific University.

“We are thrilled to welcome these three incredible educators to our Bonita Unified family,” Superintendent Matt Wien said. “Each individual brings an outstanding educational background, work experience, and commitment to students to our District. We can’t wait to see all that they accomplish in their new positions.”

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BUSD_NEWADMINS: (From left to right) Bonita Unified School District welcomes Sean Casey as principal of Chaparral-Vista High School, Nikole Burgess as assistant principal of Bonita High School, Kendra Lewis as dean of Chaparral-Vista High School and Dr. Kim Lawe as Senior Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction for Educational Services. Each educator brings a strong background in education and devotion to student success to their new positions.