Synopsis
This morning, Dr. Zimring, Rose Dunn and Dan Stepenosky met with the staff at White Oak Elementary to announce that Dr. Abbe Irshay will be leaving White Oak to become the new principal at Lindero Canyon Middle School. District personnel and Dr. Irshay have also met with the staff at Lindero this morning to announce the change (earlier this week, the District announced that Ron Kaiser is retiring at the end of this school year). Prior to serving as principal at White Oak Elementary for six years, Dr. Irshay was an assistant principal at Lindero Canyon Middle School for eight years.
The District will be speaking with White Oak staff this afternoon in more detail about filling White Oak’s principal position, and any suggestions/concerns that the staff may have. The White Oak principal position will be “posted” today at www.edjoin.org (search by district). Both internal and external applicants may apply. The District will not comment on any current principals elsewhere possibly being moved to White Oak (preferring to avoid stoking the rumor mill).
Full Announcement from LVUSD
Dr. Abbe A. Irshay Named Principal
of Lindero Canyon Middle School in LVUSD
Dr. Abbe Irshay, principal of White Oak Elementary School, has been appointed to the principalship of Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills, effective July 1. Dr. Irshay succeeds Ronald Kaiser who announced his retirement earlier this week. For the past six years, Dr. Irshay has been the principal of White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village; and, prior to that, she was the assistant principal at Lindero Canyon Middle School.
While principal of White Oak Elementary School, Dr. Irshay led the school in the development of several new programs that have helped the school maintain their high API scores. Several years ago, Dr. Irshay created a Response to Intervention Committee at the school that developed a program to serve students struggling with reading. Through their Technology Committee, several computer programs were reviewed to serve students in the area of math. They finally decided on and purchased IXL, a computer program that allows all students to work at their own performance levels in math. With the purchase of a site license by the school, students could use this program in either of the two White Oak computer labs or at home; they also will be able to access the program during summer vacation.
Dr. Irshay has also served on several district-wide committees including the Visual and Performing Arts Committee and has been an integral member of the negotiating team. With Dr. Irshay?s leadership, the district held the first annual all-elementary songfest. She has also worked on the Curriculum Council and has mentored several of the new elementary principals over the last few years.
Prior to coming to Las Virgenes, Dr. Irshay was the coordinator for the New Media Career Academy and the Performing Arts Magnet School at Hollywood High School. She began her teaching career at Sun Valley Middle School.
In making the appointment, Dr. Donald Zimring, superintendent of the school district, praised Dr. Irshay for her energy, vision, and commitment to students, stating, ?Abbe brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will enable Lindero to build upon its well-deserved reputation and develop new options and opportunities geared to 21st century learning.?
Dr. Irshay currently resides in Thousand Oaks with her husband, Stephen, a local Marriage and Family Therapist and university professor. They have four children: Eric, Brittany, Dana and Aimee.