Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) has been awarded the 2022 Superintendent of the Year Award by Region 13 of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).
In addition, Dr. Soledad Molinar, VUSD’s Director of Multilingual & Multicultural Education is being honored with the 2022 Valuing Diversity Award and Dr. Lorelle Dawes, Principal of Cabrillo Middle School is being awarded the 2022 Middle Grades Principal of the Year both by ACSA’s Region 13. Last but certainly not least, VUSD’s Director of Risk Management, Mr. Eric Reynolds is being recognized by ACSA’s North Ventura Charter as the Charter’s 2022 Central Office Administrator of the Year.
Superintendent Rice, is being honored for his unwavering passion and dedication to ensuring that all students receive the very best education and graduate college and career ready. Dr. Rice models a personal code of ethics in everything he says and does; he is known across the state for his integrity and for making difficult decisions for the benefit of students. He is known throughout the county for challenging assumptions and helping change paradigms. He holds himself and those around him to high expectations in support of a vision focused on student success and wellbeing.
Dr. Soledad Molinar, is being recognized for her tireless efforts in ensuring that students with the greatest needs receive the most services and that schools are places where students feel safe, valued, and nurtured to thrive. Dr. Molinar is an exemplary educator who has tremendous integrity. Her deep dedication to all stakeholders is evident in her positive communications and interactions.
Dr. Lorelle Dawes is being recognized for leading her school community through a lens of equity and nurturing her middle school students emotionally, socially, and academically. She is a champion of restorative practices and promotes family-school partnerships that aim to increase the voices of historically underserved families. Dr. Dawes is an exceptional school site leader who brings innovative ideas and programs to her site and our District.
Mr. Eric Reynolds has been an exemplary leader since he started in VUSD in 2007. He has always been proactive about providing safe and healthy learning environments for our students and staff as well as overseeing everything relating to insurance, accidents, and other aspects of Risk Management. Since the pandemic started, he has been responsible for coordinating with public health, communicating with sites and every employee who showed symptoms of COVID-19, and being at the forefront of leadership through the pandemic.
“The VUSD team has worked harder than ever since the pandemic began. We want to congratulate our colleagues on their well-deserved recognition. We could not think of a more appropriate way to honor the dedication they put into their work every single day,” stated Communications Director, Marieanne Quiroz.
ACSA Region 13 includes Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Dr. Molinar, Dr. Dawes and Dr. Rice will receive their awards at an event to be held in Solvang in May and all three are now in the running to receive the award at the state level.
The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) Board of Education, in their January 25 regularly scheduled Board meeting, voted to hire Ms. Gina Wolowicz as the new Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Ms. Wolowicz will be replacing Mr. Brett Taylor, who recently resigned from his position to move to educational site-based leadership.
Ms. Wolowicz brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will serve her well in this position. She has worked in the field of education for more than 20 years, most recently as the Director of Curriculum & Instruction for TK-5. She began her career at VUSD in 1997. She has held several key positions in the District, including interim Co-Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Principal at Juanamaria Elementary, Assistant Principal at DATA Middle School, and as a bilingual teacher.
