Edhat Staff
Pioneer Valley High School’s principal, Shanda Herrera, is currently placed on paid administrative leave as of Friday, September 13, pending an investigation by an independent investigator into allegations of her unprofessional conduct.
According to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s Public Information Officer, Kenny Klein, all allegations will be “promptly investigated by a third-party investigator.”
He emphasized that such matters involving personnel are confidential and further details can’t be disclosed and reiterated that the decision to place Herrera on administrative leave is not indicative of the validity of the allegations against her.
Dr. Paul Robinson, the district’s Director of Career Technical Education, has taken over the position of acting principal.
Herrera has faced criticism after a 45-day notice issued earlier this year for unprofessional behavior was revealed. With 13 years in her role, she warned for her conduct that seemed dismissive of certain student groups and contained disparaging remarks about administrators.
A school board meeting discussing this matter led to Herrera initiating legal action against local news outlets to protect personnel records, but the court mandated the release of documents with redactions.
Public records exposed emails and texts from Herrera directing district staff to deny enrollment to English Learners and students with Individualized Education Programs, aiming to protect the school’s high graduation rates. Additionally, Herrera’s texts included an offensive term for a special education staff member and derogatory comments about other administrators.
While no recommendations for Herrera’s dismissal were made at the time, and despite an online petition backing her, Superintendent Antonio Garcia stated that failure to amend such behavior could result in “serious consequences.”
With Herrera on leave and the investigation ongoing, the school district has made no determinations regarding the principal’s future until the independent investigator’s findings are presented.
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To intentionally create barriers for english language learners and students with learning differences , make fun of staff and students, many with IEP Individual Education Plan, is against each students right to a free and appropriate education. Herrera hurts the very students who have anemic test scores that have been stagnant for years. Herrera does not belong in a leadership role because she is not focused on the unmet needs of students but on whatever superficial thing she thinks makes her look good. If leadership truly cared and believed in the latent potential of all students our achievement gap would be greatly reduced. Students with learning differences and english language learners are behind because the system has let them down by offering too little interventions too late. And in some cases like this one students best interests are completely disregarded. Pathetic and heartbreaking. All students are capable, let’s believe and support all students.
Clearly, Ms, Herrera is UN-WOKE.
You’re ok with a public school denying enrollment to English Learners and students with disabilities to protect the school’s high graduation rates and reputation of the principal?
CW posts in favor of all things hateful and weird.
I am ok with a school denying enrollment to “English Learners” as this indicates to me the child is from a family of illegal aliens. Americans need to stop providing benefits to illegal aliens as we have enough problems of our own with Americans that are not receiving benefits they deserve. Enough of the BS providing benefits to illegal aliens with taxpayer dollars.
DOULIE – you’re a walking (I assume) and talking example of the cruelty, racism and hate of the right.
Do you really believe only undocumented immigrants come from countries where English is a second language? Have you ever travelled or looked at a globe? Doubt it.
You’d seriously penalize CHILDREN for the acts of their parents? Should they just be left in the streets? Oh, then you’ll complain about criminals….
You people are an embarrassment to our nation.
sac – What does me traveling around the globe (which I have done) have anything to do with the actions of illegal aliens? The illegal alien parent brings their child to America as they know they should receive many “free” benefits (paid for by the taxpayer). Money that can be used to aid Americans in need. I blame the illegal alien parent for putting the child in this position. Stay home, apply and wait in line like thousands of other people that want to enter the US legally. I have no problem with legal immigrants receiving all benefits Americans are entitled to receive.
DOULIE – I doubt it. People who have usually carry a far more tolerant outlook. My point was, you seem to think that only “illegal” immigrants come from countries whose primary language is one other than English.
You said, “this indicates to me the child is from a family of illegal aliens.”
That is wildly ignorant. Kids from “legal” immigrants also speak other languages before English. What you said was ignorant and racist.
Next, again, you say you blame the parents for bringing them here. OK, cool. So why do you want to penalize the children by denying them school? You people are always complaining about juvenile criminals yet you also are the ones that would create them by doing this. What do you think these kids would be doing if they weren’t allowed to go to school?
Look, they’re here and most of them aren’t going anywhere…. mostly because they’re too busy working their asses off to contribute to our society. You can’t complain about homelessness and crime if you also refuse to extend basic services to the people who are paying taxes to our government. Well, I guess you can (see yourself here), but you sound like an ignorant hypocrite.
He is hoping and praying for Trump’s “bloody story” in which millions of people will be violently rounded up and deported. What a POS
You mean the mass deportation he was asked about at both debates but completely dodged?
The cons are getting all giddy about the idea of all this. I can’t wait to see the disappointment on their faces in November.
By the way, in 2023 I paid low six figures in taxes and I would prefer that every single penny of my over one hundred thousand dollars go to educate children, regardless of their legal status or the status of their parents than, for example, go to assist someone like you.
Immigrants are a boon to society. Racists are a drain.
Doulie, it seems you haven’t taken thirty seconds to understand what exactly “English Learner” means in an academic setting in California. Not surprising at all.
An “English Learner” is anyone whose family speaks a language other than English in the home. This has nothing to do with their legal status.
As well, being the child of an illegal alien does not mean that one is an illegal alien.
So you would casually deny an education to a child who is a US citizen because you “suspect” something about their family’s legal status.
Beyond that, do you also favor denying enrollment in our schools to any child who has any sort of disability? This is something that this horrid Herrera person also attempted to (illegally) implement at her school.
I would have thought you would oppose people breaking the law, being a Conservative and all.
Apparently it’s just case by case for you.
More hateful rhetoric plucked from the imagination of a con bubble denizen.
Their usual tactic: Make up a scenario (they’re all illegal!!!), and then complain about it.
So much for the racists’ claims that they are only against illegal immigration, not legal immigration. Claiming that all immigrants are illegal gives up the game.
Great, now get this investigation done thoroughly and QUICKLY! Terrible for an administrator to get PAID with public money for months if not years for doing nothing while investigation drags on…