Release: August 12, 2008
Poway Unified School District Announces Principals for Elementary Schools
The Poway Unified School District is proud to announce the selection of Richard Newman, Ed.D., as principal of Monterey Ridge Elementary School and Joe Erpelding as principal of Tierra Bonita Elementary School, pending approval by the PUSD Board of Education on August 11. 2008.
Richard Newman, Ed.D.
Monterey Ridge Elementary School Principal
Dr. Newman is presently serving as principal of Edison Elementary School, a 2008 California Distinguished School, in the Torrance Unified School District. Prior to becoming the principal of Edison, Dr. Newman was an education program officer at The Wallace Foundation, where he helped lead a national education leadership initiative to improve student learning and close the achievement gap. Prior to joining the Foundation, he was a research associate and adjunct professor at the University of San Diego.
Dr. Newman spent ten years as an elementary school teacher and teacher coach and was one of the early Teach for America Corps members. He was also chosen to be a Fulbright Teacher Fellow, where he taught third and fourth grade in the Trescott Junior & Infant School in Birmingham, England.
Dr. Newman received his educational doctorate in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego, a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Florida State University
Joe Erpelding
Tierra Bonita Elementary School Principal
Mr. Erpelding currently is serving as principal of Dailard Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District. Previous to that, he held the position of vice principal at Lewis Middle School and Dana Middle School in the San Diego Unified School District.
Mr. Erpelding returns to Poway Unified where ten years ago he joined the district as a student teacher and then worked as a first, second, and third grade teacher at Canyon View Elementary School, a second and third grade teacher at Creekside Elementary School, and a teacher on special assignment at Los Peñasquitos Elementary School. He also served as a technology mentor for Poway Unified.
In his capacity as elementary teacher, technology mentor, and school administrator, Mr. Erpelding has collaborated with teachers on a variety of literacy approaches, aligned standards with teaching strategies, and utilized assessment data to foster increased student learning and meet the needs of every child.
Mr. Erpelding's educational background includes a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from National University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Diego State University.
