The local Association of California School Administrators chapter unveiled its list of 15 exemplary educational leaders on March 8.
Established in 1971, ACSA serves more than 17,000 California educators and annually spotlights top administrators and friends of education at the regional and state levels for their dedication to public education.
ACSA’s Region 17 will recognize this year’s honorees in person at the annual Celebration of Excellence banquet dinner on May 13. Held at the Irvine Marriott, each person will be invited to the stage to accept glass trophies and share a few remarks in front of their peers.
The regional chapter will unveil the recipients of other awards in the Tracy Gaffey, Classified Champion and Dr. Jan Billings categories at a later time.
Here’s the full list of the 2024 Administrators of the Year and Friends of Education for Region 17:
Superintendent
Dr. Gunn Marie Hansen, Westminster School District
Secondary Principal
Dr. Robert Rasmussen, Huntington Beach Union High School District
Middle Grades Principal
Ashley Pedroza, Orange Unified School District
Elementary Principal
Dr. Julie Hatchel, Laguna Beach Unified School District
Central Office Administrator
Dr. Mary O’Neill Grace, Anaheim Elementary School District
Secondary Co-Administrator
Dr. Atikah Osman, Santa Ana Unified School District
Elementary Co-Administrator
Yaneli Rivera, Tustin Unified School District
Classified Leader of the Year
Victoria Webber, Laguna Beach Unified School District
Personnel/HR Administrator
Dr. Maurita De La Torre, Tustin Unified School District
Career Technical Education Administrator
Katherine “Katie” Treat, Orange Unified School District
Special Education Administrator
Grace Delk, Los Alamitos Unified School District
Business Services Administrator
David A. Rivera, Orange Unified School District
Student Services Administrator
Dr. Rebecca Pianta, Santa Ana Unified School District
Curriculum & Instruction Administrator
Michelle Watkins, Westminster School District
Continuation/Educational Option Administrator
Julie Lucas, Orange Unified School District
Tracy Gaffey Award
Dr. Dan Bryan, Huntington Beach Union High School District
Classified Champion Award
Matthew Slusser, Anaheim Elementary School District
The Dr. Jan Billings Award
Dr. Rafael Plascencia, Tustin Unified School District
Valuing Diversity Award
Dr. Gabriela Mafi, Garden Grove Unified School District