Principal Lopez to Leave SHS; New Principal Chosen
May 25, 2021
Since mid 2018, Selma Highschool has been run by a man named Guillermo Lopez. However, this will be his last year in Selma, as he is taking a new position in the Bay Area.
“My family and I will be relocating to the Palo Alto, California, vicinity as I’ve accepted a district-level administrative position in the Palo Alto Unified School District,” said Mr. Lopez.
Selma High School will soon welcome new principal Dr. Leslie Martinez effective July 1st, 2021.
Dr. Martinez will join the Selma Unified community as an experienced high school administrator from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, where she has worked for the past nine years. Dr. Martinez has served as both the Assistant Principal at Santa Maria High School since 2016 and Assistant Principal at Pioneer Valley High School from 2012-2016.
Before coming to Selma High, Mr. Lopez previously had many jobs around the area, starting with teaching at a community college in 2006, hopping between counselor jobs and site administrator. After working for the Oxnard Union High School District for 12 years, he was given the opportunity to work as principal at SHS.
When asked about his favorite moment at SHS, he stated “the ones that stand out are our (pre-covid) first day of school and welcoming all students, student rallies, VAPA activities, sporting events, seeing all students on campus, and our teachers teaching, and lastly, our graduation ceremonies.”
Mr. Lopez looks back on several accomplishments. He led the school through the current pandemic, making sure students were fed, taught, and kept safe and healthy through it all. Also, “We increased the safety and security by adding crossing four guards, 40+ security cameras,” said Lopez.
“The accomplishments are ongoing, and they will be accomplished by working together with all parents, students, community, and staff as a whole,” he added.
As he departs though, Mr. Lopez does leave Selma High with a reassuring message to all students: “Dream big, have high expectations and pay it forward.”
