Meet Ronnie Platt, New Mar Vista Principal

Ronnie Platt will be the new principal of Mar Vista Elementary School in Aptos for the 2023-2024 school year. This appointment was approved in March.

Platt is principal of Main Street Elementary School in Soquel, starting in 2018. Prior to that, he was assistant principal of Aptos Junior High for four years.

He began his career with PVUSD as a special education teacher at Ohlone Elementary and has also worked as a RISE program teacher and an RSP teacher. He has a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz and a master’s in educational administration from National University.

Platt also has a Level 1 Educational Specialist Credential, a Level 2 Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Credential and an Administrative Clear Credential.

He is one of several new administrative staff for 2023-24 in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which has nearly 18,000 students.

J. Brooke Hofkins, principal of HA Hyde Elementary since 2018, will be coordinator of research and assessment. This appointment was approved in December 2022. She began her career with PVUSD in 1999 as a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher at Ann Soldo Elementary. She then became a literacy coach and then academic coordinator at Radcliff Elementary. She has a bachelor’s degree in child development from San Jose State, a multiple subject teaching credential from UCSC and a master’s in educational leadership from San Jose State along with an administrative credential.

Ana Leonor will be an assistant principal at Watsonville High School. This appointment was approved in January. She has been a counselor and administrator since 2015. A product of PVUSD, she graduated from Pajaro Valley High School, got a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara in Spanish with minors in education and psychology. Additionally, she received a PPS credential in May 2016. She has a master’s degree in education from San Jose State and is working on her doctorate through San Francisco State University in educational leadership.

Sergio Ambriz has been promoted to assistant director, Maintenance & Operations, from supervisor of Maintenance & Operations. This appointment was approved in December 2022.

Ambriz has worked for PVUSD for 6 years starting as a maintenance specialist. He has a background in various trades such as plumbing, carpentry, and HVAC. His knowledge and understanding of the maintenance and operations systems of the district are invaluable, according to district staff who say he is skilled at problem-solving, safety compliance, leading construction projects, and instilling confidence and trust in those with whom he works.

Saulo Tirado is the new Supervisor of Maintenance & Operations. He came to PVUSD in 2015 as a bus driver and maintenance specialist carpenter. His career includes carpentry, construction, reading blueprints, managing job sites and taking on difficult projects. This appointment was approved in February.

Nancy Zuñiga is the new assistant director of Expanded Learning, advancing from assistant principal of extended learning for high schools. This appointment was approved in April. Her new role will allow her to interact with students and staff from grades K-12. She will plan programs, monitor budgets and work to strengthen relationships between PVUSD and the community.

Manjit Dhesi, Lisa Diamond, Gretchen Giuffre, Carl Jacquard and Georgia Tyrell will have new roles as program directors for expanded learning, overseeing multiple sites and working with staff. Previously these five administrators were coordinators of extended learning. These appointments were approved in April.