TWO EDUCATORS WIN NEW POSTS ANDRUS, VEALE TAPPED FOR SCHOOL DUTIES.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - The Sulphur Springs School District appointed two educators to two new assistant principal positions at local elementary schools, officials said Thursday.

Fifth-grade teacher Judy Veale and Veronica ``Roni'' Andrus, a Burbank Unified School District administrator, were tapped for the openings at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary and Valley View Community School.

Neither has been assigned a specific campus. Andrus will start March 15, dividing her time between the two schools until Veale - who is still teaching - assumes her new job in the summer.

``We're fortunate to have such qualified personnel join our district administrative team,'' said Tom Garvey, director of personnel and pupil services. ``I'm sure their skills and expertise will be a great benefit to our students.''

The new positions were added to the campuses when enrollment increased beyond 700 students, Garvey said. Both Valley View and Fair Oaks Ranch serve the district's southern flank by the Antelope Valley Freeway, where hundreds of new homes are planned.

Andrus, an assistant principal at Joaquin Miller Elementary, has been an educator with Burbank Unified for more than 16 years, including a decade as a teacher and six years as district technology specialist. She applied for the Sulphur Springs position after moving to the area last summer.

``(My goal) is to help improve instruction in all areas and increase student learning,'' she said. ``My role is to support the principal and the teachers, and assist with the duties such as student discipline, to increase strong teaching and student skills.''

Veale has been teaching at the district since 1972, serving Sulphur Springs and Valley View schools. She also mentors new teachers under the district's Peer Assistance and Review program.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com