The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) is pleased to announce the following Vice Principal administrative appointments, all of whom begin their official duties July 1, 2015.

Matthew Hart, Vice Principal, Joe Michell K-8 School: Matthew Hart has been teaching English at Granada High School for all 16 years of his educational career. He grew up in the Fresno area of the central valley and attended Clovis West High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from California State University, Fresno and a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from California State University, Hayward. In his time at Granada, Matthew has filled many roles on campus. He has been the English Department chair for six years. He was the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Self-Study Coordinator, which led to work as the school’s Intervention Coordinator. His work in overhauling the entire system of intervention for the English Department helped earn the school a Gold Ribbon Award from the State of California this year. For the District, he has worked as a teacher mentor through the Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) program. He has also worked for ten years as an adjunct English teacher at Chabot College in Hayward.

Matthew brings a wide-range of resources to the position of vice principal. He has helped to improve classroom instruction through his work as the department chair and as a PAR mentor. He has helped to improve the systems of school support through his work with WASC and intervention programs. He has also worked to improve curriculum and instruction through years of presentations given at various State educational conferences.

In his personal life, Matthew lives in Livermore with his wife and two children, both of whom attend Junction Avenue K-8. Matthew coaches both of his children’s little league teams and uses the time left over after school and baseball to read, hike, and play his banjo.

Dayna Taylor, Vice Principal, Livermore High School: Dayna Taylor has been in education for twelve years in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified and San Ramon Valley Unified School Districts. She has taught English Language Development, English and a variety of Social Science courses at Junction Avenue and Livermore High School.

For the last two years, she has been working as vice principal at Junction K-8 School. Prior to Junction, she served as assistant principal at California High School in San Ramon, where she led the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Health Pathway, the Associated Student Body (ASB) Leadership program and Athletics. Dayna graduated from California State University, Chico, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a in minor English. She earned her Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from California State University, East Bay.

Dayna brings energy and enthusiasm to her new position. She believes that building relationships is the key to successful leadership and that collaboration with fellow administrators, teachers, staff, parents and students builds a progressive, positive school climate. She is passionate about making a difference in students’ lives and is committed to making the school environment positive and fulfilling for students.

Jeanine Thomas Leys, Vice Principal, Junction Avenue K-8 School: Jeanine Leys has been in education for 15 years, primarily in Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD).  She earned her master’s degree in Educational Technology at San Diego State University and completed her undergraduate studies at San Jose State University.  Jeanine most recently serves as the assistant principal at both William Burnett and Alexander Rose Elementary Schools in Milpitas. Prior to this Jeanine was MUSD’s Educational Technologist. Her career in the classroom includes teaching grades four through eight and serving two years as a teacher on special assignment heading up MUSD’s Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Academy Pilot Program. In addition to teaching, Jeanine facilitated student leadership and coached volleyball, basketball and track.

In 2008, Jeanine took a brief leave from teaching to pursue an opportunity as an educational consultant. She provided professional development to teachers who sought to integrate technology in their classrooms and helped districts and sites develop plans for technology implementation and professional development. Today, Jeanine continues her consultancy work with Buck Institute for Education’s (BIE) National Faculty Development Program. Upon completion of this program in June, she will present and facilitate BIE’s project-based learning workshops for teachers.

Jeanine’s administrative experience includes supporting two staffs at two separate sites as they made great strides to provide Common Core aligned curriculum and 21st Century learning experiences for students. She is passionate about providing authentic learning opportunities for students and is well versed in project-based learning, blended learning and design thinking. She is a firm believer that ALL students can achieve and it is her goal to make learning safe, fun and accessible. Jeanine says she is honored to join Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District and is eager to serve her community.

Outside of school, Jeanine enjoys spending time with her husband, Willy, and newborn daughter, Adelyn. She loves the beach and sunshine and can often be found on a neighborhood run or a nearby gym.

AdditionalContacts:

School Board President Kate Runyon, krunyon@comcast.net (925) 454-1339

Assistant Superintendent Administrative Services Chris Van Schaack,cvanschaack@lvjusd.k12.ca.us (925) 606-3284