SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Bonita Unified will begin the 2024-25 school year with several new top administrators, including four new elementary school principals, a high school assistant principal, and two new District administrators.

The new principals are Dr. Christine Wilson, Shull Elementary School; Phil Heng, Gladstone Elementary School; Dr. April Leon, Roynon Elementary School; and Dr. Christine Malally, Oak Mesa Elementary School. They are joined by new San Dimas High School assistant principal Joel Ravelo, Senior Director of Student Services Steven Patterson, and Senior Director of Specialized Services Jessicka Mears.

Wilson, a La Verne resident, returns to Bonita Unified to serve as principal of the elementary school she attended as a student. She served for three years as an elementary school principal and two years as an assistant principal in Chino Valley Unified School District, and taught for 20 years in Baldwin Park Unified School District.

Heng takes on his new role following three years as an assistant principal at San Dimas High School. During his time in Bonita Unified, Heng has been an integral part of overseeing the District’s math program. Heng worked for more than a dozen years in Monrovia Unified School District as a math instructional specialist and math teacher. Heng is also an adjunct professor at Cal Poly Pomona.

Ravelo fills role vacated by Heng’s promotion, after 18 years in Los Angeles Unified School District, where he served as a high school assistant principal and middle school dean of behavior intervention and support. Ravelo also has 12 years of experience as a special education teacher and classified employee.

Leon comes to Bonita Unified after serving as an elementary school principal in Covina-Valley Unified School District for five years; prior to that, she worked as a high school assistant principal, with some experience in middle school. Before becoming an administrator, Leon spent years in the classroom, as a math, AVID and technology teacher, as well as a teacher on special assignment.

Patterson steps into his new District administrative role following his tenure as principal at Oak Mesa Elementary School. Patterson has 27 years of experience in education, including 10 years in Bonita Unified, where he worked as an assistant principal at Ramona Middle School prior to becoming principal at Oak Mesa Elementary.

Patterson also served as a high school and middle school assistant principal in Claremont Unified School District and taught in the Ontario-Montclair School District.

Malally, who will take the helm at Oak Mesa Elementary following the promotion of Patterson, is a La Verne resident who has worked in neighboring Claremont Unified School District for the last 15 years as an elementary school principal. Malally also has previous administrative experience in Corona-Norco Unified School District and taught in the Ontario-Montclair School District.

Mears has spent the last three years as an administrator in Compton Unified School District’s Office of Special Education/SELPA, which serves 26,000 students at 36 school sites. Mears also has experience as a pupil services coordinator, curriculum specialist and principal. Mears also worked at Inglewood Unified School District as an elementary school principal and teacher.

“We are thrilled to start the 2024-25 school year with new administrators at our school sites and in the District office,” Bonita Unified Superintendent Matt Wien said. “Between the experience of our existing employees advancing into new positions and the unique skills and experiences of the new administrators joining our District, we are certain this group of educators will bring valuable insight and further our District goal of preparing every Bonita Unified student to live their purpose.”

PHOTOS:

BUSD_ADMIN_WILSON: Dr. Christine Wilson will serve as Shull Elementary School’s principal in 2024-25.

BUSD_ADMIN_HENG: Following three years as an assistant principal at San Dimas High School, Phil Heng has been promoted to lead as principal of Gladstone Elementary School.

BUSD_ADMIN_LEON: Dr. April Leon was appointed the new principal of Roynon Elementary School.

BUSD_ADMIN_MALALLY: Dr. Christine Malally will serve as principal at Oak Mesa Elementary School.

BUSD_ADMIN_RAVELO: Joel Ravelo is the new assistant principal at San Dimas High School.

BUSD_ADMIN_PATTERSON: Steven Patterson will serve as the Senior Director of Students Services following his tenure as Oak Mesa Elementary principal.

BUSD_ADMIN_MEARS: Jessicka Mears was appointed the District’s new Senior Director of Specialized Services.