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El Molino and Laguna high schools comfortable with new principals
New principals long-time administrators of WSCUHSD
by David Abbott
Sonoma West Editor
At a time when so many are retiring from the West Sonoma County Union High School District, two of the district’s administrators are sticking around to fill the gaps.
At El Molino High School, Doria Trombetta will say goodbye to her longtime co-principal Frank Anderson, and Laguna High School will see Analy co-principal Brenda Hoff come on board to replace outgoing principal Ross Bickford.
Trombetta was born in Oakland and grew up in Fremont. She attended UC Santa Clara and then moved to San Francisco where she met her husband, who was from Santa Rosa.
She began her teaching career at Mercy High School in Burlingame where she worked with colleague Diane Martin, who came to Sonoma County to teach in the WSCUHSD.
Trombetta and her husband followed in 1973.
“We thought we would be here for five years, but never left,” she said.
She taught English and Social Studies at Analy for 13 years, and moved to El Molino in 1986 to share principal duties with Frank Anderson and Bob Noll, who left in 1988 to teach at Piner High School in Santa Rosa.
In 1990, Trombetta and Anderson solidified their co-principal structure that has proven successful for nearly 20 years.
“I’ve worked at Analy and El Molino but I don’t have the hat trick,” she said.
Anderson is glad to see Trombetta get a chance to become principal, and believes the change will be seamless because of the continuity Trombetta brings.
“I know the philosophy or ‘vision’ of the school will not change. Barry Sovel will continue as Vice Principal and with Matt Transue taking on the newly created position of Dean,” he said. “El Molino is in very capable hands.”
Trombetta is coming into her new position with a sense of uncertainty with the fiscal crisis facing the state.
“The budget cuts will be the biggest challenge,” Trombetta said. “The district has done a credible job, but you can’t plan for this catastrophe.”
“It will be extremely trying in the next year and possibly more because of the daunting challenges of dealing with the fiscal scene,” Anderson said. “Having Doria continuing on with our philosophy of collaboration with staff and community, El Mo will do just fine.”
WSCUHSD Superintendent Keller McDonald believes Trombetta’s move will be “natural and seamless.”
“We are fortunate to be able to rely on Doria’s knowledge and experience to help El Molino keep its well-deserved reputation as a top high school that serves West County students and students who chose to come to El Molino from across Sonoma County,” he said.
Over at Laguna High School, Hoff brings nearly three decades of experience to the school.
Hoff is a native of Lodi, and when she moved to Sonoma County in 1977, she went to work in the Calistoga school system, spending 22 years as a teacher and principal.
When her son entered high school, she decided the commute from Santa Rosa was too much and that she wanted to be closer to home.
“I wanted to be able to go to his school functions,” Hoff said.
Hoff said that she loved Laguna back then, and applied for the position Bickford eventually won. In order to work in the district, Hoff applied and was hired for the vice principal position at Analy.
“It’s been an unbelievably positive experience,” she said. “I’ve been incredibly supported.”
For the past year, Hoff has been principal of the Community Day School located on the Analy Campus, and with her move to Laguna, the CDS will become part of that campus.
“Brenda is a perfect fit (at Laguna) and she will be spectacular,” said CDS teacher Meredith Stravoravdis. “I’ve been able to do this because she’s been principal.”
The CDS is an alternative school for students with special challenges. It’s separate from the other high schools and has its own model.
The curriculum is about teaching students life skills, such as balancing a checkbook or preparing meals.
They’ve also been learning how to do crafts such as tie-dye, ceramics, and other marketable skills. Hoff and Stravoravdis hope to teach the students how to create and run a business and to use the profits to help fund the program during times of severe budget cuts.
“I have a strong connection to the CDS and to alternative education,” she said.”We needed the CDS to round out our family.”
Hoff said she will enjoy going from the larger school to a “small little school where the staff is more like family.”
And staying on in a district she really cares about.
“Brenda brings a wealth of experience as a school counselor, vice principal and principal,” McDonald said. “She understands the important role that alternative schools play in meeting the needs of all students.”
But Hoff looks forward to developing relationships and enjoying “the Magic of Laguna.”
“My first year will be devoted to becoming a family member,” she said.
Laguna High School Honor Roll for Spring 2009:
Omar Aguilar
Sofia Armstrong
Steven Ascencio
Alec Austin
Kyla Carman
Michael Chavez
Loren Hardy
Matt Herd
Jennifer Lara
Tyler Lymburner
Jason Magnelli
Antonio Paramo
Rosemary Partington
Charlie Salado
Olga Salcido
Andrew Schloss
Michael Thieman
Camilla Wray
At El Molino High School, Doria Trombetta will say goodbye to her longtime co-principal Frank Anderson, and Laguna High School will see Analy co-principal Brenda Hoff come on board to replace outgoing principal Ross Bickford.
Trombetta was born in Oakland and grew up in Fremont. She attended UC Santa Clara and then moved to San Francisco where she met her husband, who was from Santa Rosa.
She began her teaching career at Mercy High School in Burlingame where she worked with colleague Diane Martin, who came to Sonoma County to teach in the WSCUHSD.
Trombetta and her husband followed in 1973.
“We thought we would be here for five years, but never left,” she said.
She taught English and Social Studies at Analy for 13 years, and moved to El Molino in 1986 to share principal duties with Frank Anderson and Bob Noll, who left in 1988 to teach at Piner High School in Santa Rosa.
In 1990, Trombetta and Anderson solidified their co-principal structure that has proven successful for nearly 20 years.
“I’ve worked at Analy and El Molino but I don’t have the hat trick,” she said.
Anderson is glad to see Trombetta get a chance to become principal, and believes the change will be seamless because of the continuity Trombetta brings.
“I know the philosophy or ‘vision’ of the school will not change. Barry Sovel will continue as Vice Principal and with Matt Transue taking on the newly created position of Dean,” he said. “El Molino is in very capable hands.”
Trombetta is coming into her new position with a sense of uncertainty with the fiscal crisis facing the state.
“The budget cuts will be the biggest challenge,” Trombetta said. “The district has done a credible job, but you can’t plan for this catastrophe.”
“It will be extremely trying in the next year and possibly more because of the daunting challenges of dealing with the fiscal scene,” Anderson said. “Having Doria continuing on with our philosophy of collaboration with staff and community, El Mo will do just fine.”
WSCUHSD Superintendent Keller McDonald believes Trombetta’s move will be “natural and seamless.”
“We are fortunate to be able to rely on Doria’s knowledge and experience to help El Molino keep its well-deserved reputation as a top high school that serves West County students and students who chose to come to El Molino from across Sonoma County,” he said.
Over at Laguna High School, Hoff brings nearly three decades of experience to the school.
Hoff is a native of Lodi, and when she moved to Sonoma County in 1977, she went to work in the Calistoga school system, spending 22 years as a teacher and principal.
When her son entered high school, she decided the commute from Santa Rosa was too much and that she wanted to be closer to home.
“I wanted to be able to go to his school functions,” Hoff said.
Hoff said that she loved Laguna back then, and applied for the position Bickford eventually won. In order to work in the district, Hoff applied and was hired for the vice principal position at Analy.
“It’s been an unbelievably positive experience,” she said. “I’ve been incredibly supported.”
For the past year, Hoff has been principal of the Community Day School located on the Analy Campus, and with her move to Laguna, the CDS will become part of that campus.
“Brenda is a perfect fit (at Laguna) and she will be spectacular,” said CDS teacher Meredith Stravoravdis. “I’ve been able to do this because she’s been principal.”
The CDS is an alternative school for students with special challenges. It’s separate from the other high schools and has its own model.
The curriculum is about teaching students life skills, such as balancing a checkbook or preparing meals.
They’ve also been learning how to do crafts such as tie-dye, ceramics, and other marketable skills. Hoff and Stravoravdis hope to teach the students how to create and run a business and to use the profits to help fund the program during times of severe budget cuts.
“I have a strong connection to the CDS and to alternative education,” she said.”We needed the CDS to round out our family.”
Hoff said she will enjoy going from the larger school to a “small little school where the staff is more like family.”
And staying on in a district she really cares about.
“Brenda brings a wealth of experience as a school counselor, vice principal and principal,” McDonald said. “She understands the important role that alternative schools play in meeting the needs of all students.”
But Hoff looks forward to developing relationships and enjoying “the Magic of Laguna.”
“My first year will be devoted to becoming a family member,” she said.
Laguna High School Honor Roll for Spring 2009:
Omar Aguilar
Sofia Armstrong
Steven Ascencio
Alec Austin
Kyla Carman
Michael Chavez
Loren Hardy
Matt Herd
Jennifer Lara
Tyler Lymburner
Jason Magnelli
Antonio Paramo
Rosemary Partington
Charlie Salado
Olga Salcido
Andrew Schloss
Michael Thieman
Camilla Wray
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