School News
updated: Jul 31, 2012, 4:35 PM

Source: Unified School District

Board Approves Three Leadership Positions At yesterday's meeting, the district's board of education approved the employment of two school site administrators, each on a 5:0 vote (motions made by Kate Parker and seconded by Annette Cordero). Prior to the names being submitted to the board, each candidate successfully completed a rigorous review process.

PRINCIPAL NUH KIMBWALA Following the recommendation of an 11-member panel comprised of teachers, classified employees, administrators, parents, and a UC Santa Barbara representative, the board approved Nuh Kimbwala to serve as the principal of Harding University Partnership School.

Mr. Kimbwala is the former principal of Bloomington Middle School, Colton Joint Unified School District, a position he held for four years. He has three years of experience as an assistant principal in the same school district. He began his career in education as a teacher in the Pomona Unified School District.

Mr. Kimbwala is currently in Claremont Graduate University's doctoral program in urban leadership. He has a master's degree in education administration, Cal State San Bernardino and a master's degree in teacher education from Claremont Graduate University. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and ethnic studies at Cal State Fullerton.

Principal Kimbwala comes to the Santa Barbara Unified School District with strong leadership skills, a focus on academic achievement for all students, and fluency in Spanish.

In school year 2011-2012, Harding University Partnership School served 463 students in grades K-6. The school is located at 1625 Robbins Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Mr. Kimbwala will begin work at Harding University Partnership School on Monday, August 6, 2012. The salary range for this position is $98,428 - $110,633.

ELEMENTARY ADMINISTRATOR KAREN MacDONALD Karen MacDonald will serve as the 50-percent time elementary administrator for Open Alternative School. The district's nine-member interview panel was made up of administrators, teachers, classified staff, a parent, and a community member.

Ms. MacDonald's previous positions include interim superintendent/principal, Desert Center Unified School District; long-term substitute teacher; and elementary school principal in the Ukiah Unified School District.

She has a master's degree in educational leadership as well as a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Alaska. She also studied political science at UC Santa Cruz and Cal State Long Beach.

Recognized as a strong instructional leader, Ms. MacDonald will begin her employment on August 15, 2012.

Open Alternative School served 149 students in grades K-8 in school year 2011- 2012. The school is located at 4025 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110.

Ms. MacDonald will begin her new position on Monday, August 6, 2012. The salary range for this half-time position is $44,631 - $50,450.

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY TODD RYCKMAN Following a rigorous review process by a ten-member interview panel comprised of principals, director of human resources, assistant superintendent, classified employees, and a community member, Todd Ryckman was unanimously selected by the panel as the finalist for the position of technology director. Yesterday, his name went to the board of education and on a 5:0 vote (motion made by Ed Heron and seconded by Monique Limon), the board approved the panel's recommendation.

Beginning in 1998, Mr. Ryckman has taught world history, social dialogues, and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) classes at Dos Pueblos High School. In addition to his role as an educator, since 1998 he has been serving as the school's site technology coordinator and, starting in 2011, he has served as the district's technology strategist.

As the Dos Pueblos technology coordinator, Mr. Ryckman has been responsible for technology planning, ordering, and maintenance of all campus technology. As the school district's technology strategist, he is responsible for the development of a district-wide technology plan and the development of policies and guidelines regarding the use and procurement of technology. He oversees the district's technology services team of four technicians. Mr. Ryckman also chairs the district's technology committee.

He will begin his new position on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. His salary range is $108,040 - $120,813.

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