Valley School principal moves on
Hermosa Valley School Principal Tiffany Rudek has resigned to take a job as assistant superintendent of instruction for a larger school district in Whittier.
Rudek will begin her new job with the Lowell Joint School District on Feb. 7. She said the opening occurred in the middle of the school year when an administrator in a Huntington Beach school district retired, and an administrator in the Lowell district moved into that job.
“It was just a wonderful opportunity that opened up,” she said. “…It was kind of a domino effect.”
Rita Flynn, a retired principal from the Los Angeles Unified School District, will take over for Rudek as interim Valley School principal until a permanent replacement is found.
“My decision to leave Hermosa Valley School was made after long and careful consideration of all factors affecting my family and career. I have enjoyed working for my community, but now have an opportunity to further develop my
career,” Rudek wrote in a letter to school parents.
“I will always remember my tenure at Hermosa Valley School for the many opportunities and successes, especially working with the Hermosa Valley staff to increase Valley’s API [student test] score by 36 points to a total of 937,” she wrote.
Rudek signed on as Valley School principal two and-a-half years ago. She said she and her family will continue to live in Hermosa, where they own a home. Her daughters Savannah and Alexis attend Valley School.
The Lowell district is about twice as large as the Hermosa district, and both serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Rudek said her move is not connected to the uncertain future of the financially strapped Hermosa district.
“All districts are facing financial issues – not just in the state of California, but around the nation,” she said.
Rudek is working toward a doctorate degree in administration for teaching and learning, and has taken roles in curriculum and instruction in the Wiseburn and Redondo Beach Unified districts before coming to Hermosa.
Rudek served as principal of Peter Burnett School and coordinator for curriculum and instruction in the Wiseburn School District. Before that she was principal of Beryl Heights School and served as an administrator in the Redondo Beach Unified School District.
Rudek’s last day at Valley School will be Feb. 4. ER